Optima Health and Social Care Ltd has admitted that one of its nurses switched off a life-critical ventilator system belonging to Joy Osundeko, a 14-year-old from St Helens, “by accident” for around six minutes. The company, however, denies the incident contributed to her death.
Ventilator switched off at home
Joy, who had complex medical needs, died four months after the incident at her home on February 15, 2022. Her parents, Bisi and Mayo Osundeko, believe the incident led to a “major deterioration” in her condition. As part of a civil case led by Hudgell Solicitors, Optima Health and Social Care Ltd admitted to a breach of its duty of care but denied any contribution to Joy’s death, agreeing to an out-of-court damages settlement.
Joy had lived with complex medical needs all her life, including Down’s Syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and Moya Moya Syndrome, a rare blood vessel condition. She required oxygen support from birth and, due to a tracheostomy, needed 24-hour care. From October 2021, Optima Health and Social Care Ltd provided this care. She was to be fully ventilated at all times as she could not breathe independently.
Incident captured on CCTV
Care records show the nurse had provided care to Joy on at least three occasions before the incident. On the day, two carers arrived at around 8am. After about an hour, Mrs Osundeko found the ventilator switched off, with Joy unable to breathe. Mr Osundeko rushed to provide manual oxygen, saying: “It only took me approximately five seconds to jump down the stairs and run to the bed but Joy was already completely lifeless.”
The family had a CCTV system in the room, which captured the incident. It shows the nurse going through a 10-second process to switch off the machine, pressing and holding a button, then pressing the screen before it shuts down. There is a period of almost six minutes before the machine is switched back on by Mrs Osundeko.
Criminal and coronial cases collapse
Joy spent nine days at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after the incident. She died on June 13, 2022, after suffering a stroke and brain stem death. In December 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service wrote to the family stating no criminal prosecution would be pursued. A request for an inquest was rejected by His Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Liverpool and Wirral, André Rebello, due to the time passed and Joy’s cremation.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council, which initially placed a condition of practice on the nurse limiting her to ‘non-patient-facing’ roles, is now investigating the incident. Solicitor Maria Repanos of Hudgell Solicitors said: “Joy’s parents have understandably been left absolutely devastated and today, more than four years on, they still have no explanation as to how and why this happened.”
Mrs Osundeko said: “We called her Joy because she brought it into our lives, and her smile could light up any room. What happened to her, and to us, was completely unacceptable.” An NMC spokesperson said: “We offer our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the Osundeko family for the tragic death of their daughter, Joy. We are investigating and the nurse is subject to precautionary restrictions on their practice while our enquiries continue.”
