A 69-year-old man from Oldham, identified only as 'John' in a safeguarding review, died after lying undiscovered on the floor of his house in multiple occupation (HMO) for days, with maggots infesting wounds on his legs. The report, published by Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board, found that the local authority and medical professionals at Royal Oldham Hospital missed opportunities to support him.
John had been discharged from hospital just two weeks before his fall, despite telling staff he did not feel safe in his home due to the serious alcohol and substance abuse issues of his five housemates. He was informed that a housing application was unlikely to be accepted, and 'possibly as a result of this information', he agreed to be discharged back to the HMO.
The report highlighted that hospital staff were unaware of the horrific conditions in the property, which had no central heating, no hot water due to a broken boiler, and no functioning microwave, kettle, or cooker. John also struggled to access the shared bathroom on the first floor due to mobility issues. Some of this information had been previously flagged to the adult social team but was not shared with health professionals before discharge.
After returning home on October 18, John fell and was unable to call for help. He remained on the floor for several days, developing pressure ulcers and becoming 'covered in urine and faeces'. When his daughter discovered him on November 5, there was 'evidence of maggots on his lower legs'. He was hospitalised but died on November 7.
The review identified 'several missed opportunities' to assess John's care needs and follow up on safeguarding concerns. It noted a lack of communication between hospital teams and unclear discharge planning. Dr Henri Giller, Independent Chair of Oldham Safeguarding Adults Board, said: 'We are deeply sorry. Actions have been taken to strengthen how we support and safeguard adults who may be vulnerable.'
A spokesperson for the Northern Care Alliance, which runs Royal Oldham Hospital, said the trust is working closely with the local authority to improve patient experiences and safety after discharge.
