Man died alone after help call ignored

A sheltered housing resident died alone after a council care worker ignored his call for help, a tribunal heard.

Jacqueline Dodds, of Broughty Ferry, was sacked from her role as a night shift community alarm worker with Dundee City Council after a man who had activated his personal alarm after feeling unwell died before workers attended his home.

Dodds was sacked and subsequently raised a wrongful dismissal claim.

The tribunal heard she was working within a control room, on February 20, and answered a call from a man known as Mr S, who lived at Sinderins Court, saying he was “out of breath and sweating” and confirming he needed medical attention.

The call should have been a priority because there were no other calls for the team to deal with.

But Dodds and a colleague – who was on the same grade as her – took the decision to write the details of the call on a piece of paper and pass it on to the day shift, who were due to start at 7.30am.

When workers eventually arrived at Mr S’s home, they found him dead.

Employment judge Ian McFatridge ruled that the workers had “followed completely unsanctioned procedure” and dismissed Dodds’ claim.