GLASGOW CARE WORKER STRUCK OFF FOR ELDERLY ABUSE AFTER CCTV FOOTAGE
Two Glasgow care workers, Diana Otobohu and Bisola Akindein, who were caught on CCTV mistreating an elderly woman have been struck off.The pair were convicted and handed 216 hours of community service earlier this year after pleading guilty to neglecting an elderly person in their care.
The family had hidden a recording device in a digital clock due to suspicions of neglect.
The footage revealed the ill-treatment of Jean Lochrane at Eastbank Nursing Home in Shettleston.
A report from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found that Otobohu "did ill-treat or wilfully neglect" Jean, failing to maintain appropriate manual handling techniques and repeatedly ignoring call alarms.
She also moved Jean's bed away from the wall, preventing her from reaching the nurse call alarm, and even removed the entire nurse call page from the wall, placing Jean "at risk of injury and preventing her from summoning assistance".
The SSSC stated the offence was aggravated by prejudice relating to disability under Section 1 of the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009.
Speaking at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Jean's daughter-in-law Angela said her mum was seen "screaming" in the footage.
She added: "Jean was screaming 'Please God help me, someone please help me'.
The effects of what happened have been long lasting." The SSSC report acknowledged Otobohu has been grappling with significant emotional issues leading up to the incident in October 2022, but pointed out that no measures of remediation have been taken.
The report emphasized: "your actions caused the supported person distress and risked causing them both emotional and physical harm in a place where they ought to feel safest.
The behaviour is extremely serious given it displays a blatant disregard for the wellbeing of a vulnerable person you were entrusted to look after." It further warned that although this was a one-off occurrence, a repetition could endanger others: "It was an isolated incident but if the behaviour were to be repeated, would place other vulnerable people at risk of harm." A spokesperson for Eastbank Care Home, run by HC-One, on the topic of the conviction said: "We are clear this should never have happened, and again extend our sincere apologies to Ms Lochrane and her family."
