A FAMILY was left horrified after being sent a stranger’s teeth and clothes when their dad died of coronavirus.
Raymond Nickson, 90, was a resident at Swallowfield Garden Care Home in Horwich, Greater Manchester before he passed away.
Raymond, a massive Manchester United fan and a keen gardener, contracted coronavirus at the home before passing away at Bolton Royal Hospital on October 5.
His daughter-in-law, Iris Nickson, claimed that following Raymond’s death, his loved ones had to wait eight weeks for his belongings to be returned.
When they were returned, in a plastic bag, Iris said some of the clothes belonged to someone else and appeared “unlaundered and smelly”.
She also claimed another person’s false teeth were also in the bag.
‘IT’S SHOCKING’
Furious Iris, 50, said: “I had to contact the coroner’s office to get them to arrange for his things to be sent.
“They finally sent his belongings and many items were missing. We were also sent another man’s clothes and teeth.
“It’s shocking. He was such a kind and gentle soul and a lovely man.”
Swallowfield Garden bosses said restrictions placed on care homes during the pandemic have been “extremely difficult”.
New rules have also made the return of people’s belongings challenging – as families are unable to go and “sort and collect” items themselves.
The retired engineer and “amazing golfer” was cared for by the Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation (GMMH) after he was left heartbroken following the death of his wife Connie in 2005.
His mental health began to deteriorate, Iris said, and he became a “shell of his former self”.
Raymond was later moved to a facility in Urmston, Greater Manchester, before moving again to Heathside Care Home in Altrincham.
After being diagnosed with vascular dementia earlier this year, Mr Nickson was temporarily moved to GMMH’s Moorside Unit in Trafford.
He was then transferred to Swallowfield Garden on August 18 – just after Bolton went into local lockdown.
But Iris said the family raised concerns about Mr Nickson being cared for 25 miles away from his loved ones.
She said: “My husband doesn’t drive so it was a six hour round trip on public transport to visit him through the window, or we had to get a taxi which we then expensed to the council.”
Andrew Maloney, deputy chief executive at GMMH said: “We offer our deepest condolences to Mr Nickson’s family.
“We have been in contact with Mr Nickson’s family over many months to explain the reasons as to why Mr Nickson needed to move from our Moorside Unit in Trafford, to a facility which would be able to meet his needs.
“The decision made was the most clinically appropriate one, and in line with all our practises, we kept Mr Nickson’s family involved and informed at all times.”
