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BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Savoy tea for two comes true at Northampton care home
One of the UK's best-known hotels has stepped in to make a Christmas dream come true for two care home and Jean, who live at Collingtree Park near Northampton, said they had always wanted to take afternoon tea at The Savoy in the Strand in hotel obliged with a hamper of treats, some genuine Savoy bone china, and a handwritten copy of their scone recipe for the home's ladies said they were "treated like royalty". The story began when the home's activities co-ordinator, Martin Tilly-Reed, set up a Christmas wishing tree for residents to reveal their hopes and dreams for got all kinds of responses, but the one from Betty and Jean caught his Tilly-Reed got in touch with The Savoy to see if they would make the ladies' dream a reality. The hotel was built by the impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan opera productions and opened on 6 August has three restaurants, all managed by Gordon Ramsay, but would they be able to bring something of their opulence to a South Northamptonshire care home?The answer came in the shape of a hamper of Savoy treats, a bone china Savoy tea service, and handwritten instructions for the Collingtree Park chef to create Savoy scones for all the residents. Betty and Jean said: "It has been the most fantastic afternoon, we have been treated like royalty."We had the most beautiful fine bone china, delicious Savoy black tea, home-made Savoy scones, and gorgeous Savoy preserves as well."Such a day to remember and so lovely to be able to share it with all our friends here and all the staff who really are heaven-sent."The acting general manager of the home, Catherine Campbell, said: "The Christmas wishing tree was Martin's idea and he is busy fulfilling all our residents' wishes."This one took a little while to pull off but was it worth the wait." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Bradford care home resident guilty of attempted murder
A man has been found guilty of trying to kill a fellow care home Dowling was convicted of the attempted murder of Kevin Ryan on 10 December last year at Burger Court, on Barkerend Road in Bradford, following a four-day Crown Court had previously heard that Mr Ryan, 61, had suffered a punctured lung and several fractures in the attack after an argument 36, who had admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm but denied attempted murder, was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at a later date. The defendant had told the jury that he had punched and kicked Mr Ryan in self-defence after the victim "flipped my glasses".The court had been told the dispute had started when Dowling discovered Mr Ryan had kissed his girlfriend, who was also a resident at the home for adults with mental health conditions and learning the prosecution said the victim was so severely hurt that a medical consultant had likened his injuries to those sustained by someone who had fallen from a second-storey window onto a hard court heard Mr Ryan was not able to give evidence during the trial as he was not in a fit judge adjourned sentencing to allow for a psychiatric report. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Officer's decision to spray amputee, 92, was ‘consistent with training'
A police officer's decision to spray a 92-year-old amputee who threatened to stab care home staff was 'consistent with training', a court has been told. Pc Stephen Smith, 51, faces trial alongside his colleague Pc Rachel Comotto, 36, for allegedly using excessive force on Donald Burgess during an incident at Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, in June 2022. Mr Burgess was taken to hospital after the incident, during which he was sprayed with an incapacitant and tasered, and later contracted Covid. He died 22 days later aged 93. The care home had called 999 after Mr Burgess, a single-leg amputee and wheelchair user, reportedly grabbed a knife and threatened to stab staff. Smith previously told the jury sitting at Southwark Crown Court he tried to convince Mr Burgess to drop the knife and warned him he could tasered before deciding to spray Pava synthetic pepper spray into the pensioner's face. Ian Mills, a use of force adviser for the police and expert for the defence, told the court on Thursday: 'That would be consistent with training based on the officer's perception of the threat at the time. 'His (Pc Smith's) use of force, though difficult to watch, was generally in accordance with his training.' Mr Mills said: 'There is the perceived threat of the knife, they (the officers) tried … grabbing the knife, which failed, they tried with threatening Pava, which is not getting a result. 'He (Pc Smith) then states his intention (to use Pava) to ensure the safety of staff and the safety of other residents at the care home.' When Mr Burgess did not drop the knife after he was sprayed, Pc Smith deployed a baton to 'try and knock the knife out of Mr Burgess's hand', the officer previously told the court. Commenting on this incident, Mr Mills agreed the officer used his baton with 'minimal force'. He continued: 'His use of the baton was also in general accordance with training based on the circumstances. 'These choices should be based on the information the officers have at that time and the officers' honestly held beliefs at the time of the incident, even if they are later found to be wrong. ' People are unpredictable, techniques are unreliable, so officers have to adapt to the situation. 'They make split-second decisions based on their perception of the circumstances whilst in fast-moving situations and without the benefit of hindsight.' Mr Mills added the two officers made a 'tactical error' in failing to 'fully explore avenues of information before entering the room' – notably by talking to the care home staff about Mr Burgess. He said: 'There was an opportunity on arrival to the scene to further assess the incident – for example, the medical history and usual behaviour of the subject.' Earlier this week, jurors heard that Smith allegedly emptied a full canister of synthetic Pava spray into Mr Burgess's face and struck him with a baton, with Comotto deploying her Taser – all within one minute and 23 seconds of entering his room. On Thursday, Smith denied this and said he used a 'short burst' of incapacitant on Mr Burgess. Mr Mills seemed to agree with this assessment, stating the can of Pava was used for a total of 2 seconds on Mr Burgess, when it allows for 6 seconds of use at full capacity. Smith denies two counts of assault, relating to his use of Pava spray and a baton, while Comotto denies one count for discharging her Taser. Prosecutors say the force used against Mr Burgess – who had been reportedly threatening staff with a serrated cutlery knife and telling them he would 'take pleasure' in murdering them – was excessive and unnecessary given his age and physical condition. The trial continues.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Officer who used spray on amputee, 92, did not see he was disabled, court told
A 92-year-old amputee who threatened to stab care home staff had 'ample opportunity' to drop his knife before officers sprayed and tasered him, a court has heard. Pc Stephen Smith, 51, faces trial alongside his colleague Pc Rachel Comotto, 36, for allegedly using excessive force on Donald Burgess during an incident at Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, in June 2022. Mr Burgess was taken to hospital after the incident and later contracted Covid. He died 22 days later aged 93. The care home had called 999 after Mr Burgess, a single-leg amputee and wheelchair user, reportedly grabbed a knife and threatened to stab staff. Smith, who gave evidence on Thursday, told the jury sitting at Southwark Crown Court he did not see that Mr Burgess was disabled and using a wheelchair as he was focused on the knife the pensioner was holding in his hand. Smith said: 'The way he had been threatening staff members – the threat was the knife, to the staff there and also to himself.' The court heard both Smith and Comotto repeatedly asked Mr Burgess to drop the knife, with Smith warning him: 'Put the knife down mate, or you will be sprayed or tasered. That's up to you.' Smith told the court he believed Mr Burgess 'could clearly understand what we were saying to him'. In the Sussex Police 'use of force form' which Smith filled out shortly after the incident, he wrote Mr Burgess had been 'given ample opportunity' to drop the knife before Comotto and himself resorted to force. Smith also told the court one of the first things he noticed when entering Mr Burgess's room was that he had 'white knuckles'. Smith said: 'That indicated to me that he had an immense grip on that knife.' When asked by his defence barrister Denis Barry what his goal was at the time, Smith said: 'To make sure no-one got injured and look after everyone within the care home.' Earlier this week, jurors heard that Smith allegedly emptied a full canister of synthetic Pava spray into Mr Burgess's face and struck him with a baton, with Comotto deploying her Taser – all within one minute and 23 seconds of entering his room. On Thursday, Smith denied this and said he used a 'short burst' of incapacitant on Mr Burgess. He explained he used the spray to cause Mr Burgess to drop the knife. When this did not work, Smith deployed his baton. 'I just wanted the knife out of the gent's hand', Smith said, adding that he tried to 'knock the knife out of Mr Burgess's hand' by using the baton. Body-worn camera footage of the incident showed Mr Burgess wincing after being sprayed, then raising the knife a couple of times as Smith flicks the baton towards the resident's hand. Smith denies two counts of assault, relating to his use of Pava spray and a baton, while Comotto denies one count for discharging her Taser. Prosecutors say the force used against Mr Burgess – who had been reportedly threatening staff with a serrated cutlery knife and telling them he would 'take pleasure' in murdering them – was excessive and unnecessary given his age and physical condition. The trial continues.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Falls and medicine safety raise concerns at Camberley care home
Concerns over "unwitnessed falls" and unsafe medicine management have been raised by inspectors at a Surrey care home.A report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found there had been a "breach of legal regulations" in relation to medicines at the Kings Lodge care home in Camberley, adding that medicines were not always managed who visited the home in Kings Ride following safeguarding concerns also found "there had been a high number of incidents including unwitnessed falls". They rated the home as "requires improvement" overall and particularly in the areas of safety and Care Living Ltd, which runs the home, has been contacted for comment. The CQC inspectors said there were 73 people using the service at the time of their visit, which was a responsive assessment due to safeguarding concerns said: "Processes to help ensure that risks to people were assessed and mitigated were not always effective."However, they rated the home "good" for being effective, caring and responsive."Overall, people were cared for by staff who were kind and caring and knew them well," they said. "The home was clean, fresh and well-maintained." Although staffing levels were rated adequate to meet people's needs, on the day inspectors visited "staff in one of the units seemed rushed"."Most relatives thought there were not always enough staff on duty," they also said the home was developed to meet people's needs, including those living with dementia, and that there was a range of activities available which were some relatives told inspectors they thought there were not enough staff, another said: "I can't speak more highly of the Kings Lodge staff. They are all so kind."
