Apology after carer fed dog food to elderly woman by mistake

A home care worker mistakenly served an elderly woman microwaved dog food, an investigation revealed. The Radis Community Care staff member logged the meal as lamb dinner in the client's freezer, unaware of the error. A subsequent caregiver identified the mistake after observing the packaging. This incident was just one of several poor care practices over a three-month period, according to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Portsmouth City Council announced it would no longer contract Radis for services. Both entities issued apologies. The woman consumed three bites of the food in June 2024, about a month before her death due to frailty from old age. The meal came from a pack labeled "fresh take on dog food" and intended for adult dogs and puppies.

Previously, in April 2024, the council initiated a safeguarding inquiry after complaints from the woman's family. The investigation uncovered multiple concerns, including Radis staff logging nonexistent visits, serving stale and inedible food, and leaving the woman wet or in darkness overnight. The woman's Do Not Attempt Resuscitation document was also found crumpled in a cupboard.

The inquiry spanned six months, whereas it should have concluded within 28 days. The council relied on Radis' internal investigation and failed to conduct adequate scrutiny, despite Radis already being under separate scrutiny for its overall performance. Ombudsman Amerdeep Clarke labeled the case "truly shocking." The council refunded the care fees and provided an additional £1,000 to the family.

Portsmouth City Council stated it had terminated the Radis contract early and enhanced its monitoring of care providers and response to concerns. However, Radis Community Care voluntarily withdrew from offering services in Portsmouth by the end of 2025. In their statement, they emphasized that mistakenly providing dog food was "wholly unacceptable."