Care boss is struck off

A former care home manager has been struck off the nursing register after causing "pain and suffering" to three pensioners who died following neglect in Wolverhampton.

Leonard Bevan was found guilty of misconduct by the Nursing and Midwifery Council after a host of care failures at the former Cranmere Court Nursing Home in Tettenhall.

During the three-day hearing in London, it emerged Bevan had brushed off serious concerns about residents Christine Dixon, Mary Ellam and Arthur Leslie Plant's health.

The panel said he had failed in his duty of care between June 2000 and November 2002.

Val Morrisson, chair of the committee, said: "Leonard Bevan led the nursing and care teams and should have set an example of good nursing practice. By his failure to deliver the required standard of care, he caused pain and suffering to three vulnerable residents in his care."

She said his actions were "fundamentally incompatible with being a registered nurse".

Mrs Dixon, who had Down's Syndrome, died within six months of moving into the Cranmere Avenue home, which closed in 2003.

Before she was admitted, the 64-year-old could take care of herself and walk unaided, but within months she was said to have been bedridden, incontinent and her body covered in sores.

Mrs Ellam, who had dementia and a history of falls, was a resident there for 18 months during which time Bevan failed to spot the 82-year-old had a broken hip. Mr Plant, also 82, died from kidney failure after Bevan mistakenly diagnosed a hernia.

After being told of the ver-dict by the Express & Star, 58-year-old Bevan, who did not attend a single hearing, said he was "devastated".

Mary Ellam's daughter Margaret Thomas said she was pleased to have got some justice for her mother

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