Daughter sues care home after her mother, 80, suffered horrific burns across her whole back when she fell against an uncovered radiator 

• WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT
• Kathleen Waters was found slumped against a radiator in her bedroom in London
• Dementia sufferer's skin was so badly damaged that she had four hour operation
• Care home admits it knew she had high risk of falls but radiator wasn't covered
• They have since admitted to failing to provide safe care after CQC prosecution

A daughter is suing a care home after her 80-year-old mother suffered horrific burns across her back when she fell against an uncovered radiator.

Kathleen Waters, of Morden, South London, who had dementia, was found slumped against a radiator in her bedroom - leaving her with second degree burns.

Her skin was so badly damaged by the incident at Manor House care home that she needed a four hour operation and spent two months in hospital recovering.

Bosses at the care home have admitted that staff knew she was high risk of falls yet there was no one monitoring her nor was the radiator covered.

They have since admitted to failing to provide safe care following a prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission and were fined £24,600 last Thursday.

Ms Waters's daughter Amanda Drinkall, 44, a student from Mitcham, said: 'Seeing the pictures of my mum's horrific burns made me feel physically sick.

'Caring for someone with dementia is a 24 hour job and when we chose a care home we went with Manor House because it seemed to be the best.

'It has been a nightmare though and I feel completely let down and disappointed that this was allowed to happen to my mum.

'You put your trust in these professionals and people who are supposed to put checks in place to make sure your loved ones are safe.

'They have destroyed all the trust I had in care homes, my mum suffered so much unnecessary pain.'

Ms Drinkall was notified of the accident which happened in November 2015 after receiving a phone call.

She added: 'I got a phone call at about 9.30am to say my mum had had a minor accident and was taken to hospital. A care worker had gone with her.

'So I wasn't too worried at first. Then I got a call to say she was in majors, so alarm bells started ringing. Why would she be there if it was a small accident?

'I went to the hospital and mum was distressed, in pain and shaking. Then I saw the burn. I was so upset because it looked awful and so sore.

'It was a rollercoaster of emotions because you start to feel guilty for putting your mum in a home.'

Ms Drinkall and her family were left further distressed when they began trying to figure out what had happened to her mother.

She said: 'Her sensor mat which was used to alert staff when she had moved from bed had been taken away and she couldn't access the alarm bell because it was out of her reach.

'It took weeks to get to the bottom of what happened. I wanted to cry when I found out it was because she had been left slumped over a radiator, the pain must have been immense for her.'

The Manor House owners admitted failing to provide safe care and treatment resulting in avoidable harm to Ms Waters as part of the case brought by the CQC.

They are now also facing a civil claim for neglect as Ms Drinkall takes legal action.

In an accident and incident investigation report carried out by a senior manager or supervisor at the home, it was stated that 'management failure to provide proper guards or covers to the radiator' were the cause of the accident, and that the uncovered radiator had not been considered 'high risk' before the incident.

A legal claim served on the home owners alleges a number of other failings which meant staff were not alerted to Ms Waters's fall, and left her unable to call for help.

Ms Waters's admission record to Manor House stated that she was high risk and had a high dependency level of care.

Ms Drinkall launched legal action against the home through medical negligence specialists Hudgell Solicitors.

The mother-of-two said: 'The home also faces an allegation of failure to call an ambulance within a reasonable time after my mum was found.

'As a result, it is claimed unnecessary surgery had to take place on November 23, 2015.

'My mum was left scarred, endured pain and suffering, developed a pressure sore after her operation, and suffered further deterioration in her physical and mental health, as well as psychological trauma.

'She was transferred to another home but died in May last year of a heart attack.

'By the end she'd gone through a lot of pain and I sat with her for about three days. She was crying constantly. She'd had enough and didn't want to be there.

'She was mobile before the accident, but she didn't want to stand or walk afterwards, and the pressure sore was painful for her.

'I believe she'd had had enough after the accident. She was depressed. It was horrific. No one wants to see their mum go through that.'

Sue Jackson, of Hudgell Solicitors, who is representing the family, said: 'Mrs Waters was badly let down by the care home through a string of care failings.

'Firstly, a radiator with the capacity to cause such injuries should not have been in her bathroom uncovered, and serious questions have to be asked as to why this was not identified as an injury risk before the accident.

'Carers were then unaware Mrs Waters was out of bed and not on hand to assist her because the required sensor mat was not present.

'Had this been there her carers would have been alerted to her movements and been able to assist her, either preventing her fall or coming to her aid quickly and preventing such serious burns being suffered.

'Finally, had the call cord been of an appropriate length, she would have been able to call for assistance, again something which could have resulted in help being much speedier and less serious injuries being suffered.

'Sadly, she went through a horrific experience and suffered burns that were easily avoidable through simple steps.

'At present the defendants have indicated to us a willingness to pay damages, but as yet we've not had a formal admission of liability, although of course there has been a recent admission of failing to provide safe care and treatment in the Magistrates' Court.'

Manor House has so far refused to comment but has been contacted for a right of reply by MailOnline today.