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Grieving daughter demands apology from Barchester, after operator of care home in Inverness accused her of bullying staff


By Louise Glen

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Juliet Robinson at Highview House care home. Picture: Gary Anthony.
Juliet Robinson at Highview House care home. Picture: Gary Anthony.

A GRIEVING daughter is demanding an apology from the operator of a care home where her mother died after it accused her of bullying staff.

Juliet Robinson was called a bully by Barchester, who run Highview House Care Home in Inverness, after she protested at not being allowed in to see her 88-year-old mother Pamela in the days leading up to her death.

But Barchester has refused, standing by its earlier comments that included “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.”

Pamela Robinson had vascular problems that severely limited her mobility, and also had dementia.

Her daughter said that not once in the nine years that her mother stayed in the home, did staff ever speak to her personally and make the claim.

Ms Robinson, who works at Eden Court and for her own business, said: “I am shocked and devastated by being called a bully by Barchester.

“I have been continually supportive of Highview care home over the last nine years of mum’s life while she was resident there.

“Since mum’s death on July 12, the care home manager Elsbeth Russell has voluntarily stated how much I am liked in the home by staff and residents alike, and that myself and the family have been so supportive of the home over the years.

“Therefore, I think I am justified in asking for an apology from Barchester.”

The 52-year-old, from Clachnaharry, was allowed to be with her mother as she died, but her sister was made to wait in the car park.

A Barchester spokesman said: “We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends who have lost a loved one in this awful pandemic.

“Pamela was a much-loved member of the community who treated everyone with kindness and respect and will be dearly missed. We hope that Pamela’s daughters and the wider community understand our commitment to the needs and safety of all of our residents and staff in these difficult times.

“We will always act to protect our staff who are going above and beyond during the battle with Covid-19.

“We appreciate how hard it has been for families with limited access to visiting and have always done our best to balance the needs and safety of all of our residents and staff with any request for additional visits.

“In this instance, we are glad that we were able to provide additional visits to Pamela’s daughter and hope this helped the family at this very trying time.”

Ms Robinson said she will now pursue the matter further and refutes any claim she has been a bully.

A private funeral was held for Pamela Robinson in Inverness last Friday.

A celebration of her life and work as an artist will take place at a later date.

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