February 11, 2013 3.15 pm This story is over 133 months old

Pensioner’s family win claim for negligence at care home

Negligence claim: The family of a pensioner who fractured her leg when she fell in her nursing home in Lincoln have won a £12,000 claim against the home.

The family of a pensioner who fractured her leg when she fell in her nursing home in Lincoln have won a £12,000 claim against the home.

Edith Wray was a resident in Morton Court nursing home when she fell off a commode and fractured two bones.

She had been hoisted onto the commode and her family claimed she fell when she was left unsupervised. She was admitted to hospital and had to undergo surgery.

The injury resulted in her being bed bound. While back at the home Mrs Wray suffered a further fracture of the same leg.

Her family alleged she was in pain until she died seven months later of an unrelated illness in December 2010 aged 95.

Lincoln law firm Sills & Betteridge, acting on behalf of her sons Michael and Peter, launched a case against the home’s owner, Lace Housing Ltd.

Lace Housing initially denied negligence in failing to supervise or support Mrs Wray whilst she was using the commode.

Before court proceedings began the company’s insurers settled the case. The family were awarded £12,000.

“We are satisfied that this was settled and we feel we have received some kind of justice for our mother,” said Michael Wray.

“This was never about the money. We felt our mum didn’t get the care she deserved and we expected so we were forced to resort to the law.”

Sills partner Stephen Wilson, who handled the case, said: “Many thousands of families trust the care of their loved ones to professionals, and in many cases that care is by no means cheap.

“They expect a service that ensures their relatives are safe and well looked after. In some cases the standard of that care is rightly challenged and it’s our job to seek justice for the family.”