Grieving daughter asks for an apology from Inverness care home after bullying claims
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A grieving daughter is considering legal action after she was accused of bullying by the operators of her mother’s care home.
Juliet Robinson, whose mum lived in Highview House Care Home, on Scorguie Avenue, Inverness for nine-and-a-half years, was accused of bullying by the home’s operator Barchester, in the weeks leading up to her mum's death.
Pamela Robinson (88) died in July with only one family member by her bedside, as her other daughter sat outside in a car, due to Covid regulations.
Ms Robinson, who runs her own business, has now approached lawyers to try to get a full apology from Barchester for calling her a bully.
A statement from Barchester in July, after Ms Robinson tried to gain access to the home to be with her mother in the last few weeks of her life, said: “We know this is a very difficult time for families and the overwhelming majority of people have thought of others before themselves. However the individual involved here has not only tried to go against our protocols but has been bullying towards our staff. The two visits made to date during lockdown have both been overstayed which has put pressure on the staff at the home.”
Ms Robinson’s family spent around £540,000 on her mother’s accommodation and care while she lived in the home. It was all funded by the family through the sale of a house.
She said: “I have been approached by dozens of people, including members of staff at the care home, to tell me that I am not a bully.
“I have been alongside the management of Barchester supporting the home to do fundraising, I considered many of the staff in the home as people who had become friends over the past nine-and-a-half years – so these harsh words from Barchester are devastating.
“All I want is for them to say sorry, and to say what they said had no basis in fact.”
MSP Fergus Ewing took up Ms Robinson’s case, asking the company to consider making an apology.
A reply from Barchester’s customer contact team to the MSP said: “We truly believe the team went above and beyond to support this family, by allowing flexibility with our end of life policy, arranging more indoor visits for Ms Robinson and her siblings than any other families in the same position with great consideration to their family needs without enforcing the policy which stated two end of life visits only.
“As you are aware, Ms Robinson had also sought press involvement, and unfortunately did not comply with the visitation guidelines during her additional visits. Whilst we completely empathise with the family and the distress caused by these unprecedented circumstances, we will not extend apologies.”
A spokesman for Barchester said it would make no public comment on the issue, but invited Ms Robinson to write to them privately.
