Two carers at a residential home have denied a wilful neglect charge following the death of a 92-year-old woman who passed away after choking on some "not properly cut up meat", a court heard. Theresa Murphy, who lived in the Solihull care home, choked on a large "gristly" piece of beef despite efforts to resuscitate her, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
Aysha Mohammed, 56, and Patricia Dunkley, 57, who both work at the understaffed St Michael's Home in Olton, have both denied the charge, Birmingham Live reports.
Richard Atkins KC, from the prosecution, said: "This is a tragic case concerning the death of a 92-year-old lady. Theresa Murphy was a resident at St Michael's care home and at the time she had a diagnosis of dementia.
"She had various needs including the need to have her food cut up and she needed to be supervised when eating. She had dentures but not a bottom set.
"It was well known she would put more food in her mouth than she could swallow and could not chew properly. Sadly on 26 May 2016 she ate a piece of meat that had not been properly cut up, if at all, and she choked to death.
"At the time she was being cared for by Aysha Mohammed. It would appear that on the day of this tragedy the care home was understaffed. At least two care staff had not turned up for work."
Mr Atkins said that Mohammed also had a large number of other residents in the dining room to look after. He continued: "As a result although Mohammed knew that Theresa Murphy needed to be watched and assisted and needed her food cut up she was not paying sufficient attention to Theresa.
"It would appear she did not cut up the meat properly on the plate that was put before Theresa Murphy that day. The manager on duty at that time was Patricia Dunkley. She knew the care home was understaffed that day but had not done anything to get sufficient staffing."
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Mr Atkins said another resident was sitting near Theresa Murphy at lunchtime and had seen Mohammed leave food on the table.
"She started to eat it but thought that the beef she had been given was tough and left it", he said. "She looked over to Theresa and saw her put a very large piece of meat in her mouth using her fingers. At that time Patricia Dunkley came over and started to cut up food that was still on the plate and at that point Theresa Murphy started to choke."
Mr Atkins said She was struggling to breathe and that paramedics who had been at the home for another matter tried to dislodge what was in her throat and they eventually removed the "gristly" meat.
Despite efforts to resuscitate her Miss Murphy was declared dead at 2.10pm. Mr Atkins said another worker at the home had previously witnessed her choking on a piece of sausage but she had been helped to cough it out.
He said her care plan made it clear that her food needed cutting up into small pieces. "It was well known and well known to everyone there," he said.
The trial continues
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