AGENCY staff were helping to care for a man the night he died at a Newbridge care home, a court heard.

This is the latest evidence to come to light in the trial of seven people charged with wilful neglect leading to the death of Alan Sayers at Mountleigh Care Home in 2004 and a doctor facing other charges.

Newport Crown court heard yesterday from Gwent NHS Trust special placements manager Sue O'Driscoll, who said that in November 2003, it had been agreed to provide 24-hour care for Mr Sayers because of erratic behaviour.

Mrs O'Driscoll said that Dawn Harris, one of the accused, gave her assurances that this would always be a regular member of staff that Mr Sayers knew.

She said agency staff would only be used in "extreme circumstances when no other staff could come in".

Peter Murphy representing Harris said not a single email or letter was sent to Harris about this.

Mrs O'Driscoll admitted this was an oversight on her part.

Agency worker Chengeta Kaziboni, another accused, had been working on the night of Mr Sayers’ death.

His defence Eugene Egan said that because Mr Sayers couldn’t express himself because of his condition, permanent staff may have a better idea of his needs.

Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust psychiatrist Elizabeth Stephens visited the home regularly in the months before Mr Sayers died.

She had no concern over his care and said staff seemed genuinely fond of him.

Paramedic Peter Constable arrived at the home at 4.18am on September 27 2004.

He said he found Mr Sayers with some blood below his nose and rigor mortis had set into his body.

Proceeding.

Mountleigh Care Home general manager Dawn Harris, 52, of Raglan Mews, Newport and care manager Enda Evans, 56, of Glyn Derw, Caerphilly, are jointly charged with wilfully neglecting Alan Sayers between December 18 2002 and September 28 2004.

Care assistants Rosslyn Jenkins, 54, of Alexandra Place, Newbride and Michael Lurvey, 54, of Greenfield, Newbridge. qualified nurse Musediq Salisu, 47, of Viscount Evan Drive, Newport and agency care assistants Margaret Lewis, 60, of Prospect Place, Cwmbran and Chengeta Kaziboni, 34, of Cowbridge Road West, Cardiff, are jointly charged with wilfully neglecting Alan Sayers between September 25 and September 28 2004.

GP Sushma Ohja, 55, of Hillside Park, Bargoed, is charged with making false representations on Mr Sayers’ death certificate and cremation certificate and also falsely obtaining £50.70 from Gwent Police by claiming she attended the home in her capacity as a police doctor.

  • The care home is now called Millview House and Lodge and is run by Southern Cross Care Homes.