A FORMER Met Police officer died after suffering "failure or neglect" by staff at a Wilmington nursing home, an inquest heard.

Victor Ashcroft was 72 and living at the Wilmington Manor Nursing Home when he had to have his right leg amputated below the knee at Darent Valley Hospital on January 28.

He had been living at the Bupa-run home in Common Lane since April 2010 and returned from hospital on February 22 having developed sores on the sole and heel of his left foot, the inquest at Gravesend Town Hall heard on June 11.

Staff nurse Sandesh Holkar examined Mr Ashcroft on February 25, by which point he also had pressure sores on his inner thigh and a wound on his left shin.

Mr Holkar denied failing to record the patient’s deterioration in his care plan when questioned by North Kent Coroner Roger Hatch, despite saying he had forgotten in a written statement made to the court.

On March 6 Mr Ashcroft was referred to a GP who found no infection and said the dressings on the wounds should be managed.

But BUPA quality consultant Ann Moore was met with an "odour indicating the presence of infection" when she visited the patient on March 14 to prepare a quality care report, she told the court.

Ms Moore said: "The left shin wound appeared to go down to the bone and all wounds were infected.

"The dressings removed were all soiled and should all have been removed prior to that date."

The dressings were meant to have been changed every three days but Ms Moore could see no evidence this had been done, the coroner was told.

The "number of failings" the consultant recorded included a lack of any pain assessment and a failure to record when Mr Ashcroft had been moved to ease the pain of his pressure sores.

He was readmitted to Darent Valley on April 5 but died two weeks later suffering from pneumonia, a brain haemorrhage, hypertension, kidney failure and long-term diabetes.

Mr Hatch recorded a narrative verdict and said: "I find the treatment that Mr Ashcroft received was well below the standard required.

"I record that the death of Mr Ashcroft was due to the failure or neglect of the treatment that he received at the nursing home."

Mr Ashcroft’s son Philip said: "We are happy that the most formal of investigations was carried out on behalf of our father.

"After surviving complex brain surgery in 2010 with his renowned sense of humour intact, we are disappointed that he was failed at the end by a nursing team that genuinely appeared to have a good-humoured rapport with him."

Mr Ashcroft junior remembered a man born in Blackpool in 1939 whose move to London at 18 and subsequent career as a Met Police officer "stimulated him for over 30 years."

The osteopath said of his father: "He enjoyed the early years of his retirement through his love of drives to the countryside and by seeking out beautiful pubs for lunch where he would like to spend time with his wife, children and friends."

Bupa staff disciplined

Elaine Farrer, deputy regional director of Bupa Care Services, said: "The care we provided to Mr Ashcroft did not meet the usual high standards we provide, and we would again like to send our apologies and condolences to his family.

"A thorough investigation revealed there were concerns raised with regards to the treatment and recording of Mr Ashcroft’s pressure ulcers.

"As a result, three members of staff were disciplined and retrained in pressure ulcer management.

"We have reviewed our internal processes to ensure robustness to avoid this happening again. This involves working more closely with specialist nurses and GPs."