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Care Home Operator Sends Sheriff Officers to Whistleblower
11 Apr
Summary
- Former nurse received legal threats at home for documentary comments.
- Care home operator used sheriff officers to deliver legal letters.
- Families faced long waits for refunds from the care operator.
Former nurse Jacqueline Banks was shocked when sheriff officers arrived at her home, not with family news, but with legal threats from a care home operator. Banks had spoken to the BBC about her aunt's care at Oakeshott House, run by Morar Living. The operator stated using sheriff officers was the most reliable method to deliver legal letters and denied preventing participation in the documentary.
Caitriona MacMillan, who died at Oakeshott House in 2023, experienced eight upheld complaints about her care. Her family, along with nine others, reported waiting months or over a year for refunds from four Morar homes in Scotland. Jacqueline herself reported a nearly year-long wait for her aunt's £9,600 deposit refund. The legal letters alleged serious implications of duty of care failures and potential impropriety.
Victoria Hogg also described receiving a letter via sheriff officers after an 18-month wait for a £19,000 refund from Morar for her husband's care. She found the experience intimidating but felt more determined to speak out. Morar Living defended its refund process, citing a clear policy and necessary legal checks to ensure funds went to the correct party, emphasizing resident wellbeing as a priority.
