3L Care, the company that ran the Atherton nursing home where Walkden fire bomb victim Michelle Pearson spent her final weeks, has admitted shortcomings in its treatment of her.
At an inquest in Bolton on Thursday (November 5) into the deaths of Ms Pearson, 37, and four of her children, senior coroner Timothy Brennand said 3L had admitted that its record retention, care plans relating to Ms Pearson refusing treatment, and use of 'body maps' to monitor pressure sores were all lacking.
Attack and Aftermath
Zak Bolland and accomplice David Worrall attacked the Pearson family home in Salford with petrol bombs at around 5am on December 11, 2017. The fire killed Ms Pearson's children Demi, 15, Brandon, eight, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three.
Ms Pearson survived but suffered 68 per cent burns and died of her injuries 20 months later, on August 25, 2019.
Admissions at Inquest
The inquest heard from Allison Murphy, former director of 3L, who said she first met Michelle at Wythenshawe hospital in November 2018, four months before she moved into the nursing home. Ms Murphy said she was confident 3L had the experience and expertise to meet almost all of Ms Pearson's 'complex' needs, except burns wound care, which would require extra staff training.
She told the inquest: "I really liked Michelle, you couldn't not like her. I told her I had lost a child as well, aged seven. She was really empathetic. I was like 'why are you feeling sorry for me, after what you've been through?'."
Laura Nash, counsel to the inquest, asked Ms Murphy if she had any concerns about Ms Pearson's suitability to be cared for by 3L given her complicated needs. "No," she replied.
Mr Brennand asked Ms Murphy if her 'better judgement was swayed by the tragic background of the case' when she decided to accept Ms Pearson into the home. She replied: "I just wanted to help her."
Concerns Raised
Citing problems such as an 'ant infestation', Mr Brennand asked why, if the home had taken four months of 'careful planning' to prepare for her arrival, things got off to a 'concerning start'. Ms Murphy replied there was a context to some of the issues, such as Michelle preferring to use pillows for her feet instead of a stool which had been recommended.
Mr Brennand then asked if Ms Murphy felt there were issues with communication. "The family say when they tried to get someone to listen it never happened," he added. Ms Murphy replied: "I am sorry about that but there was always a manager on site. They could speak to the nurse in charge. I would always take a phone call."
Ms Pearson moved to the Atherton home on March 11, 2019, after being discharged from the specialist burns unit at Wythenshawe hospital. On May 21 she was taken by ambulance to Salford Royal hospital, before later being transferred to Wythenshawe hospital, where she died on August 25.
Earlier this week the inquest heard how Ms Pearson's family had concerns about her suitability to be moved into a nursing home. Ms Pearson's sister Claire said the family 'didn't feel she was ready' to leave hospital and 'weren't really involved in any discussions around which care home was right for Michelle'. She also said she did not believe Ms Pearson received adequate mental health support, adding: "Michelle had lost her children, been a victim of the most terrible event and had sustained life-changing injuries. She was in excruciating pain every single day, not only physically but also mentally."
The court also heard Ms Pearson, having been discharged from the care home, was left 'crying in pain' in the back of an ambulance for 'more than three hours' while consultants at Wythenshawe and Salford hospitals argued over who should look after her, according to a family statement.
In the last weeks of her stay in the nursing home, Ms Pearson's 'mood dipped' and she began to refuse treatment, including wound dressing and physiotherapy. She also expressed 'suicidal ideation' and was placed under 10 minute observations. Around mid-April to early May, 3L staff began to become concerned the home was no longer a suitable place for her to be treated, as her condition was deteriorating and she was increasingly refusing treatment.
Austin Welch, representing 3L, asked Ms Murphy: "You were trying your very best for Michelle and her family?" "Yes," she replied. "Are you sorry on behalf of 3L there have been concerns raised in relation to the experience Michelle had at 3L?" "Yes, extremely," she replied. "I have a huge understanding of what grief is. I know what you have lost. I am sorry for you."
