A care worker from Lancaster has denied mistreating dementia patients at a nursing home, Preston Crown Court heard earlier today.
Katie Cairns, 26, of Riverview Court, Westgate, Morecambe faces the allegations of abuse along with two colleagues at Hillcroft nursing home, Carol Moore, 53 and Gemma Pearson, 27.
Ms Cairns denied allegations that she had grabbed the loose skin around a male patient’s nipple, before twisting it and calling it a ‘mangina’.
She also denied deliberately throwing a softball too hard so that it caused harm to and humiliated a patient during a co-ordination building exercise.
Furthermore, another allegation the jury heard was that she intentionally stood on the foot of a wheelchair bound patient, which she also denied; although admitted that she may have done it accidentally.
However, Ms Cairns did admit to receiving a disciplinary for swearing in the presence of residents.
The court also heard a statement from Kathryn Horrocks, a colleague of Carol Moore’s from her time working at Fairfield Hall.
She said regarding Ms Moore, of Ripon Avenue, Beaumont, Lancaster, that: “At all times I have found her to be professional, caring and courteous.”
This was followed by six statements from relatives of patients at Hillcroft, all praising Ms Moore’s work at the home.
A fourth member of staff, Darren Smith, 35 has already admitted to eight accounts of ill treatment and is not on trial.
All three defendants face further questioning for misconduct between May 2010 and September 2011, under the 2005 Mental Capacity Act, as the trial continues.
*This was originally submitted as part of a portfolio for a 2nd year Print and Online module. The news was gathered during a visit to Preston Crown Court.
Katie Cairns, 26, of Riverview Court, Westgate, Morecambe faces the allegations of abuse along with two colleagues at Hillcroft nursing home, Carol Moore, 53 and Gemma Pearson, 27.
Ms Cairns denied allegations that she had grabbed the loose skin around a male patient’s nipple, before twisting it and calling it a ‘mangina’.
She also denied deliberately throwing a softball too hard so that it caused harm to and humiliated a patient during a co-ordination building exercise.
Furthermore, another allegation the jury heard was that she intentionally stood on the foot of a wheelchair bound patient, which she also denied; although admitted that she may have done it accidentally.
However, Ms Cairns did admit to receiving a disciplinary for swearing in the presence of residents.
The court also heard a statement from Kathryn Horrocks, a colleague of Carol Moore’s from her time working at Fairfield Hall.
She said regarding Ms Moore, of Ripon Avenue, Beaumont, Lancaster, that: “At all times I have found her to be professional, caring and courteous.”
This was followed by six statements from relatives of patients at Hillcroft, all praising Ms Moore’s work at the home.
A fourth member of staff, Darren Smith, 35 has already admitted to eight accounts of ill treatment and is not on trial.
All three defendants face further questioning for misconduct between May 2010 and September 2011, under the 2005 Mental Capacity Act, as the trial continues.
*This was originally submitted as part of a portfolio for a 2nd year Print and Online module. The news was gathered during a visit to Preston Crown Court.