Row over bill for Bristol care home during investigation

The daughter of a man removed from a Bristol care home formerly at the centre of abuse allegations has been threatened with legal action over an unpaid bill for his care.

But Linda Dempsey says she will not pay the £662.20 bill for a month's care for her 84-year-old father Kenneth Norman because of alleged neglect at Kingsmead Lodge in Shirehampton.

Police, social services and the watchdog the Care Quality Commission investigated earlier this year after five former care workers at Kingsmead Lodge gave statements on practices that they claimed to have seen at the care home.

Two families contacted the Post to voice concerns about the treatment of their relatives at the home, which has places for 37 dementia patients and 44 in need of nursing care.

No charges were brought as a result of the investigations. An inquest into the death of one resident will be held.

Mrs Dempsey, 42, of Mancroft Avenue, Lawrence Weston, who looks after her father's finances, was upset when she got the bill relating to a period from the end of January to the end of February, when her father was staying temporarily at another care home.

He now lives in Holmwood House in Westbury-on-Trym, where he is very happy and "treated like a lord".

Mrs Dempsey said: "I was panicky and stressed out when I received the bill. My brother Steve and I don't think we should have to pay it."

Steve Norman, 52, said: "The letter from the city council threatens legal action unless the bill is paid but they will not get a brass farthing."

Mr Norman was rushed into hospital in January this year suffering from gall stones.

After treatment he never returned to Kingsmead Lodge, run by Mimosa Healthcare, and stayed temporarily at another care home before a permanent place was found at Holmwood House in Westbury-on-Trym.

A spokesman for the city council said: "The council takes the welfare of all of those in its care very seriously indeed and we are committed to ensuring all of our services aspire to the highest possible standards.

Mimosa run four care homes in Bristol and all four homes are currently rated adequate or good by the external regulators, the Care Quality Commission.

"Concerns were raised regarding safeguarding at a number of the homes in the past, in Kingsmead's case, more than a year ago, and Bristol City Council worked with Mimosa and the Care Quality Commission to review the care provided and to take remedial action to improve services where appropriate," he added.

"Bristol, with other local authorities, follows national 'Fairer Charging' guidance in charging for all social services provided. Under the guidelines, all residents in care homes are required to make a financial contribution to the cost of their care, depending on their income. This is subject to a means test to determine what a person can afford to pay."