5:28pm Thursday 3rd July 2008
By Manisha Mistry
A NURSING home has rejected claims that one of its patients was "suffering" as a result of the lack of care she received.
Pensioner Gilbert Brown, 83, tried to kill his wife Doris 80, who was a resident at Cedar House nursing home in Harefield.
On Monday, Brown was spared jail after attempting to kill her in a bid to put an end to her problems.
On February 23, he went to the care home for his wife leaving a note which read: "I can't let Doris suffer much more."
He fed her a cocktail of sleeping pills and painkillers then drove to a remote spot, connected a hosepipe to the exhaust and fed it through the window of his car hoping the fumes would kill them.
A spokesman for the care home, who refused to be named, said Doris was now back living in the care home.
She said: "We did recently receive a glowing report from inspectors which has no resemblance to the claims made.
"The fact she is back at the care home shows there are no problems with the care any of our residents receive."
Sparing Brown jail, Judge Jeremy Roberts QC, said: "This was a genuine attempt by Brown to carry out what is sometimes referred to as a mercy killing of his wife, and to kill himself so they would both die together.
"It was an act intended to end her suffering and he didn't wish to remain alive after he had done that.
"This does not require a prison sentence."
Brown had been married to his wife for nearly 60 years and after she contracted rheumatoid arthritis he became her sole carer.
He had turned their home in Harefield Road, Uxbridge into a virtual hospital where he looked after Doris 24-hours a day.
Early this year, Doris developed dementia and was forced to move to a nursing home.
However, Brown became incensed by what he perceived as the poor treatment of his wife.
Prosecutor David Harounoff, said: "Brown would spend four to five hours with his wife every day looking after her.
"He was not happy with the care his wife received at Cedar House. He complained about the quality of care assistants, quality of medicine and said there were occasions when his wife was crying in pain."
Brown was originally charged with attempted murder, but on June 2 he pleaded guilty to attempting to aid and abet suicide.
He was sentenced at the old Bailey to a two year community order and will be supervised by the probation service during that time.
He must also be supervised by a member of social services when he visits his wife.
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