Head of care who binned residents’ medication handed custodial sentence

A head of care who threw elderly residents’ medication in the bin has been handed a custodial sentence and suspended for 18 months.

Susan McIntosh deliberately threw away medication for 13 residents and signed them off as “administered” at Chippendayle Lodge Residential Care Home in Harrietsham, Kent in November 2017, The Sun reported.

Her misconduct was uncovered after a colleague discovered a sealed bag of medication in a bin.

Ms McIntosh, who pleaded guilty to all 13 charges of wilful neglect at an earlier hearing, was sentenced to 120 days in custody for each sentence and suspended for 18 months.

She was also given a community service order, including 80 hours of unpaid community work.

Magistrate Sheila Potipher told Ms McIntosh: “This is a very serious matter – fortunately, no one was harmed.

“We understand that you were under a great deal of stress, but nevertheless we feel this is an offence that warrants a custodial sentence, which we are going to suspend.”

Defending Ms McIntosh, Hugh Roberts said residents had either refused the medication or were asleep at the time it was administered.

Mr Roberts said Ms McIntosh was working “long hours” and was under stress as her boyfriend was suffering from brain cancer.

He added: “She got herself into a pickle. She didn’t set out to harm anyone. The issue is that she failed to complete the paperwork.”

Chippendayle Lodge is run by Charing Healthcare. Ms McIntosh is no longer employed by the company.

Heather Viggers, Director of Care & Operations at Charing Healthcare, told CHP: “We wish to publically thank our staff for being so vigilant and following our policies and procedures.”