Carers thought collapsed woman was 'pretending'

Carers did not give first aid to a 29-year-old care home resident because they thought she was "attention seeking", an inquest heard.

Holly Goodchild collapsed and died at Cygnet House near Great Yarmouth, which is a residential home for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs.

Norfolk Coroners' Court was told how carers had "tried to encourage her off the floor" and thought she was "pretending".

Daniel Soanes, a night support worker, told the court that if he had known Ms Goodchild was having a seizure, he would have "absolutely" called 999 sooner.

Ms Goodchild's medical cause of death was given as positional asphyxia, epilepsy and morbid obesity, and left ventricular hypertrophy.

In a statement given to police shortly after Ms Goodchild's death, Mr Soanes said he had never seen her "throw herself on the floor before", but that she was known to "act irrationally if she didn't get her own way".

When Ms Goodchild collapsed at the home in Belton on 29 March 2023, he was working at nearby Swanrise care home, which is also run by private company Crystal Care.

He said he was called to Cygnet House by senior carer Steve Soucient, who was on the phone to the ambulance service when he arrived.

Mr Soanes said he tried to encourage Ms Goodchild off the floor by offering a "cup of tea and a cigarette".

He claimed she was making a "grunting noise" and he could see she was breathing, so he cleaned the kitchen in an adjoining room.

Asked by Carl Rix, counsel for Ms Goodchild's family, whether this was appropriate, Mr Soanes replied: "It was a task that needed doing."

"Do you agree that you should have considered Holly had had a seizure?" Mr Rix asked.

"Of course, yes," he replied.

A statement from paramedics, which was read to the court, said staff at the care home "were unable to identify Holly had gone into cardiac arrest".

The court was told that on the night Ms Goodchild died she had not taken medication to manage her epilepsy.

She had walked downstairs looking sad, the inquest was told, and was stood by an external door having a cup of tea and a cigarette when she collapsed.

Anna Sampaio, a carer who heard Ms Goodchild shout, said she thought the resident had had a heart attack.

"I shook her to get a response but she did not respond," she recalled.

"She was quite big so I couldn't move her more than I did."

Senior coroner Jacqueline Lake asked whether she could see Ms Goodchild breathing.

"No, I didn't see any sign that she was breathing," Ms Sampaio replied.

"Did you consider calling the emergency services?" Ms Lake continued.

"Only when Steve arrived at the house. I said 'please call the ambulance, she's not well'… Now, I would have called the ambulance if I could."

Ms Sampaio said it was company policy to inform senior carers before dialling 999 in emergencies.

However, Mr Soanes said he was not aware of the policy.

Ms Sampaio claimed Ms Goodchild had not been breathing for 30 minutes before the ambulance service arrived.

The inquest was previously adjourned in June but resumed earlier on Tuesday.

The hearing is due to conclude later this week and representatives from Crystal Care are also expected to give evidence.

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