A HEARING is due to continue today into allegations that a Shotley nurse failed to put a proper care plan in place for an elderly woman who eventually died.

A HEARING is due to continue today into allegations that a Shotley nurse failed to put a proper care plan in place for an elderly woman who eventually died.

Hazel Garrow, from Shotley Gate, is care manager of an Essex nursing home where the woman died, allegedly because of improper care.

Her case and that of three other nurses Mable Chifamba-Garaidenga, Blessing Chimusuro (both from Dagenham) and Jayne Murphy from Hornchurch in Essex is due to go before the National Care Standards Professional Conduct Committee today.

At the hearing yesterday it was revealed how the woman's family were shocked when they visited her just four days after her admission to the Dagenham nursing home to find her with a swollen abdomen and bruising to her shins, face and thighs.

Her family called in officials after discovering her slumped in a chair at the home.

When blood was found on her dressing gown a dressing was applied to her elbow, but her wrist was not checked.

She was taken to hospital on November 24, 2001 and it was revealed she had a broken wrist.

Mrs A, as she is being called, was discharged but died at home two days later.

She had been placed in the nursing home because she was suffering from multiple dementia. A post mortem revealed she had died of heart disease but a secondary cause of death was given as the fracture of the right wrist with senile osteoporosis.

The hearing was told that staff had failed to ensure proper procedures were in place to look after her needs, including the risk of suffering from falls.

It was recommended she should not be left unsupervised as she presented a danger to herself.

Garrow, 41 and the other nurses variously deny the allegations which could see them struck off for misconduct.