Care home manager guilty of manslaughter

POLICE say they remain "suspicious" about the deaths of some of care home killer Rachel Baker's former residents in the wake of her conviction for manslaughter.

Baker, 44, who stole medication from elderly patients to feed her own addiction to Class A drugs, was yesterday found guilty of the manslaughter of Lucy Cox, 97.

She was cleared of the manslaughter of Frances Hay, 85, another resident at the Parkfields Residential Care Home, in Butleigh, Somerset.

Baker, of Boundary Way, Glastonbury, was cleared of murdering both the women, and had earlier admitted 10 counts of possessing class A and C drugs, and one of perverting the course of justice.

The jury heard Baker may have wanted to "control the terminal destiny of some of her residents", although in her evidence she insisted her drug-taking never jeopardised their safety.

After the case Detective Superintendent Trevor Simpson, who led the case for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "I'm suspicious about some of the deaths at the home during that time – it doesn't change the situation."

Mr Simpson added that, were it not for the two whistleblowers at the home, Kathy Slade and Sarah Barnett, more tragedies could have occurred apart from that of Mrs Cox in 1997.

He said: "I fear that had they not complained about Mrs Baker's suspicious behaviour further residents may have died prematurely. The carers are to be commended for taking this brave stance against their employer."

He said the investigation was now closed, adding: "We've explored all the evidence we possibly can."

Opening the case in January, prosecutor David Fisher said: "Rachel Baker was, by her own admission, regularly taking prescribed drugs, which must have had a substantial effect on her character and conduct.

"She, for a variety of bizarre and perverted reasons, may have had a desire to control the terminal destiny of some of her residents."

Care assistant Kathy Slade, who worked with Baker, gave evidence, saying she overheard her boss ask Mrs Hay if she wanted to "end it all" two days before she died.

In her evidence Baker blamed the "stress, pain and emotional turmoil" of running the home for her decision to steal the medication.

She also claimed she was left feeling "useless" after the death of one of the home's residents, Fred Green.

She denied that her "diverting" of residents' drugs ever affected their care.

Baker sobbed as she was remanded in custody to await sentence on a date yet to be fixed.

Trial judge Mr Justice John Royce said: "A custodial sentence is inevitable given the circumstances, a combination of drugs offences and the conviction for manslaughter."

The three-year investigation had not been about the "generic care" offered to residents, Mr Simpson stressed. The trial was about "the criminal actions of just one person – Rachel Baker".

He said: "Mrs Baker deliberately and dishonestly lied to, manipulated and abused the trust of others, including fellow healthcare professionals, carers and – most disturbing – the families of those residents in her care.

"All this deceit was for one selfish goal, to obtain the controlled drugs she wanted for her own addiction.

"Mrs Baker created and/or exaggerated symptoms of pain to ensure doctors prescribed the opiates she craved.

"She stole these drugs and administered what she thought was appropriate doses regardless of the doctor's instructions.

"This led to residents being treated for pain they didn't have or not being treated with appropriate doses for the pain they did have.

"This control exerted over the delivery of drugs was further compounded by her large-scale fraudulent record-keeping."

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Care home manager guilty of manslaughter