GLOUCESTER CARER GUILTY OF WILFUL NEGLECT BUT CLEARED OF MANSLAUGHTER AFTER DRUG MIX-UP
A former care worker who wrongly gave morphine to a resident has been found not guilty of manslaughter.Gloucester Crown Court was told Jane Barnard, 66, of Longlevens, Gloucester, failed to report she had mistakenly administered the drug to Derek Davies, 75, on 8 September 2021.
Mr Davies fell ill and died in hospital two days later.
Barnard, who had been employed at Wheatridge Court Nursing Home in Abbeydale for 32 years, was cleared by a jury of manslaughter on Monday.
She previously admitted a second charge of wilful neglect, which she will be sentenced for on 19 January.
On the morning of 6 September 2021, Barnard erroneously gave Mr Davies medication prescribed for another patient, Jason Dodsworth.
That afternoon, Mr Davies became very unwell and was losing consciousness, prompting Barnard to dial 999 and request an ambulance.
Barnard did not tell staff at the care home or the paramedics what she had done, nor did a doctor who queried Mr Davies' pinpoint pupils and laboured breathing, which are signs of opioid use.
The cause of death was determined by the jury to be morphine toxicity.
While Barnard was not involved in storing the medication, she failed to make the correct checks and follow procedure before administering the morphine.
Barnard admitted her mistake to the deputy home manager and expressed panic over her actions.
Her defence stated she had worked as a carer for over three decades and had led a commendable life until that mistake.
She was found not guilty of manslaughter but will face sentencing for wilful neglect.
She previously apologized, saying she was scared to death and could not believe what she had done.
