Bexley Council has been ordered to pay a total of £700 after failing to properly assess the needs of a woman with vascular dementia and delaying her placement in a care home. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found fault with the council's handling of the case, leading to distress for the woman and her family.
The woman, referred to as Mrs Y, has vascular dementia and lived alone in sheltered housing. She received support from her daughters and granddaughter, Miss X. In January 2025, after Mrs Y was hospitalized with low blood pressure, Miss X requested a reassessment of her grandmother's needs, noting that her dementia was affecting her physical health and making it difficult for her to cope at home.
The council completed a review on February 12, 2025, finding that Mrs Y was eating and drinking less, sleeping excessively, confused about time and date, and had badly bruised legs. Night care was arranged temporarily. However, on February 22, Mrs Y was hospitalized again after injuring herself with her walking frame. A subsequent assessment in March revealed she could not remember where she lived or that she was in hospital.
Miss X expressed concerns that her grandmother's health and cognition had declined, and that she could not move safely alone. The family was spending significant time caring for Mrs Y, affecting their own health. The council agreed to provide four 45-minute calls per day and review care six weeks post-discharge, but Miss X complained when a care home placement was not offered.
In a pre-discharge meeting in early April, it was noted that Mrs Y needed supervision, was at high risk of falls, lacked insight into her needs due to dementia, and required prompting to eat and drink. Her doctor recommended a care home, and she was moved to a discharge-to-assess bed. In June 2025, the council apologized for failing to complete a formal mental capacity assessment, which had not been done until she entered the care home. The council also admitted that care reviews had not properly considered risks.
Dissatisfied with the response, Miss X escalated her complaint to the Ombudsman, who found that the council delayed the mental capacity assessment, failed to consider family concerns, and did not complete carer assessments for the family. The Ombudsman ordered Bexley Council to apologize in writing and pay £350 to Mrs Y and £350 to her family.
A Bexley Council spokesperson stated: "We accept the findings and recognize the impact this situation had on the individual and their family. Adult Social Care services operate in a complex environment, but this does not excuse the shortcomings identified. We have already taken action to address the issues, including reinforcing staff training and strengthening assessment processes. We have provided the remedy recommended by the Ombudsman and will continue to monitor our practice."
