Shropshire Star

I made mistakes, Shrewsbury care home nurse tells court

A nurse who denied neglecting elderly and vulnerable residents at a care home in Shrewsbury "made mistakes," a court has heard.

Published

Cielito Torres said she should not have signed forms saying 10 residents at Ottley House Care Home in Shrewsbury had taken medication she had provided during a night shift.

Staff on the following shift found tablets in a bin that were the same of those that should have been given to the residents.

Filipina Torres, who spoke through a translator, admitted to Shrewsbury Crown Court she had made mistakes by signing the forms, but insisted she did not throw the tablets away.

Torres, 53, of Greenfield Street, Shrewsbury, denies 10 charges of ill-treatment or neglect of residents by failing to administer medicine at the home.

She was questioned by Mr Ian Ball, prosecuting, yesterday.

Mr Ball asked her if she accepted there were some breaches of procedure during her night shift and she replied yes.

Catherine Smallman, a carer who has worked at the care home in a number of roles for 13 years, told the court she witnessed some of the residents take the tablets given to them by Torres.

Torres had previously told the court that residents had taken their medication and claimed that she had found them on the floor in the clinical room at the home.

She later told police she had also found four green tablets in two separate corridors at the home on the same night and also placed them in the bin, the court heard.

She told the court some residents could be difficult or aggressive when it came to trying to get them to take tablets, but that if that happened she would always return later in her shift to try again.

Judge Robin Onions said he would begin summing up the case today.

Ottley House Care Home, which is based on Corporation Lane in Coton Hill, provides 24-hour nursing care alongside expert care for people with dementia.

On May 14 last year there were 62 residents – 31 of which were in the elderly mentally infirm unit where Torres was working.

The trial continues.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.