Police in Halifax say they’re investigating the death of a long-term care facility resident, who died eight weeks after being taken to hospital.
The 40-year-old woman was a resident of Parkstone Enhanced Care at 156 Parkland Dr.
READ: Nova Scotia requiring long-term care facilities to report bedsores
According to Halifax Regional Police, the woman was taken to hospital by ambulance on Jan. 28 to be treated for a medical condition. She died eight weeks later on March 22.
Investigators with the Special Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division are now looking into whether the woman’s death was the “result of criminal negligence” while she was a resident at the facility.
“It’ll be a lengthy investigation. They’ll be speaking with witnesses as well as doing some very in-depth analysis of the medical records and the care records,” said Const. Carol McIsaac.
A sister, Elizabeth Deveau, has confirmed with Global News that the resident was Chrissy Dunnington, who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus and was confined to a wheelchair.
Deveau says her sister moved into the facility in November 2016 and died 15 months later from an infected stage 4 pressure ulcer, or bedsore.
“It went right to her tailbone, the infection was into her spine and into her bones by the time she ended up in hospital,” she said.
Deveau says her sister was paraplegic and had cognitive dysfunction but was “healthy in every other way” before she moved in.
“So we have a tremendous number of questions to how she got to the injury of pressure ulcers, what about her care led to that,” she said.
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“We’re encouraged that police are taking this seriously and we have every confidence they’re going to do a thorough investigation and hopefully get to the bottom of what happened.”
Shannex Inc., which operates Parkstone Enhanced Care, told Global News they are taking the matter seriously.
Department of Health suspends investigation
In reference to Dunnington’s case, Health Minister Randy Delorey says there was an active investigation under the Protection for Persons in Care Act.
In a statement to Global News, Delorey says they are working with police and “in accordance with our guidelines and to avoid interfering in the police investigation, we will put our investigation on hold.”
On Thursday, Nova Scotia announced new rules requiring long-term care facilities to report bedsores to the province.
“These reporting requirements will improve tracking and oversight of wound care for residents and help us determine additional steps. We will be posting inspection reports and results of investigations under the Protection for Persons in Care Act quarterly. We are preparing our first post for this summer,” Delorey said.
The Department of Health and Wellness said it was taking the action to improve wound care in the facilities and to make sure there are consistent standards across the province.
Opposition parties react
On Friday, the province’s NDP caucus called on the province to make the results of routine nursing home inspections public. In a news release, the NDP says that families should know the results of these inspections.
“Long-term care facilities in our province are home to some of our most vulnerable citizens. We should be doing everything possible to make sure residents are safe and well cared for,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill in the release.
“Having public access to inspections would add another layer of accountability for those in charge of providing care.”
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The release quotes another sister of Chrissy’s, Dorothy Dunnington.
“Families should be able to see the inspections of the homes where their loved ones are being cared for,” she said. “Protecting residents should be the top priority. Keeping these inspections away from the public doesn’t help.”
Nova Scotia’s PC Party leader also weighed in on the case, calling on the province to report unexpected deaths or injuries in nursing homes to the authorities.
“It shouldn’t be up to a grieving family, like the Dunningtons, to engage the police,” MacFarlane said in a news release.
“Families expect their government to ensure their loved ones are treated well in nursing homes. And when they aren’t, they expect their government to take action.”
With files from Steve Silva
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