A Fife mum is worried about her disabled daughter’s wellbeing after she was suddenly moved out of supported accommodation following complaints over her care.
Enid Mann, 64, claims Fife Health and Social Care Partnership “essentially dumped” 33-year-old Leona just days after her sister Kendra complained about the use of alleged physical restraint on social media.
Leona has complex physical and mental disabilities and requires 24/7 care.
She had lived in supported accommodation at Watt Crescent in Methil since 2017 before being moved to a care home in Cowdenbeath, then to Benore Care Home in Lochgelly last month.
Fife mum fears over daughter’s potentially fatal seizures after care concerns
Her family was told the urgent move was a result of staffing issues.
Enid, who lives in Cellardyke, claims she has been “left in the dark” over Leona’s care, and fears carers who are not familiar with her needs may not spot potentially fatal seizures.
She told The Courier: “Leona was taken from her home with her housemate and a carer that knew her, only to be moved again on her own.
“Now, to us, it feels like she has been kidnapped.
“This is the first time she has ever been on her own; even when she has been in the hospital, I have stayed with her.
“They say it is because they are short-staffed, but they have always had issues with short staff.
“Since we have raised our issues, it is like they have withdrawn their care.”
Enid added: “Leona is 33 but she is like a newborn baby, she’s incontinent, needs puree foods and has a fluid tube in her stomach.
“She is also blind in one eye.
“She can’t converse, the people that are with her have to know when she is in pain, she can’t tell us.
“Leona’s care is going to be taken over by the Richmond Fellowship.
“This has been in the works for a while, but we were told there would be a transition period so carers could get to know her.
“It doesn’t seem like that will happen now, and we have been told Leona will have to stay where she is until Richmond takes over.
“I lost my husband, Ralph ‘Dixie’ Mann, three months ago. I am at the stage where I can’t take much more.
“When we were dealing with that, we shouldn’t have had to worry about Leona.”
Fife family claims daughter ‘essentially dumped’ in care home
Enid and her younger daughter, Kendra, say they were informed of the alleged use of physical restraint against Leona in January 2024.
In a letter responding to the family’s 2024 complaint, Fife Health and Social Care Partnership claimed they would carry out a “robust” investigation.
The nature of the allegation was described as “serious”.
The letter from the organisation, which partners with NHS Fife, Fife Council and other charities and agencies, says Enid and Kendra will not be provided with details of the investigation outcome due to GDPR.
They are both registered as Leona’s legal guardians.
Kendra says her sister has now been “essentially dumped” in a home where the carers do not know her, meaning they may misunderstand her needs.
She claims her mum had to show workers how to properly feed Leona after they believed she was refusing food.
The pair complained to the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), the Care Inspectorate, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and Police Scotland about the 2024 incident.
Police confirmed a joint investigation with the partnership was carried out and no criminality was established.
A spokesperson added: “Advice and assistance was provided.”
A spokesperson for Fife HSCP said: “We cannot comment on individual cases for reasons of confidentiality.”
They were unable to confirm whether any investigations were ongoing.
A spokesperson for SSSC said: “We are aware of the concerns raised but cannot comment on individual fitness to practice investigations.”
A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “We take all concerns brought to us seriously and consider all information given to us carefully.
“We referred the concern raised in 2024 to the relevant agency for investigation under Adult Support and Protection legislation, and the information we received was also shared with the lead inspector for this service.”
Kendra and Enid have sent a letter to Fife HSCP, SSSC and the Care Inspectorate this week after being informed about a second incident relating to Leona’s care in June this year.
The family’s issues have been escalated by Fife HSCP to a stage two complaint.
Conversation