A furious mum is suing her disabled daughter’s carers after her wheelchair careered down a steep hill and crashed into a main road – when her BRAKES were not put on.
Cerebral palsy sufferer Lisa Conisbee, 27, suffered horrific facial injuries after she rolled 200ft down a pavement before hitting the kerb and being hurled into the road.
Two carers were taking her out for a day trip and wheeled her to the top of Skinners Hill in Rushden, Northants., while they waited for a bus.
But as they were waiting, the brakes on her wheelchair were not applied causing her to roll down the steep incline.
Her mother Penny Nadal, 53, is now taking legal action against Olympus Care Services – claiming her daughter’s carers forgot to apply the brakes to the wheelchair.
Traumatised Lisa – who was left with a scar above her eye and several cuts and bruises to her face – took two months to recover after the horror fall on April 23 last year.
Teaching assistant Penny said Lisa – who also suffers from spinal problems, epilepsy and partial blindness – was “lucky to be alive”.
She said: “To say I am absolutely appalled and angry is an understatement.
“My daughter was placed in the carers’ hands to be looked after and you have to have an understanding of trust.
“I feel betrayed that this has happened to Lisa and just want to understand exactly how it could happen.
“My daughter has suffered her whole life and this will leave a lasting mental scar.
“Trust has to be earned with my daughter and she always felt safe in her wheelchair but this incident has left her traumatised.
“If a vehicle had been coming the other way she could have been killed.
“I don’t believe the brakes could have been applied, otherwise she would never have rolled down the hill.
“Since the accident she has been very quiet and subdued and is nowhere near as happy as she used to be.
“She has even said things like ‘don’t let them tip me out’ when getting in her wheelchair.
“It is just awful. I just think that somebody has to be held accountable.”
Lisa lives with other people in a specially adapted bungalow in Wellingborough, Northants., with 24-hour care.
Penny, who has two other daughters Kerry, 29, and Leanne, 22, lives nearby with her husband Marc, 56.
Olympus Care Services – which is owned and run solely by Northamptonshire County Council – have denied liability.
Specialist law firm Irwin Mitchell are now investigating allegations the carers left Lisa unattended without the brakes on.
Personal injury lawyer Sophie Davies said: “This is a truly shocking incident and if Lisa’s wheelchair had collided with oncoming traffic we could be talking about an entirely different outcome.
“Lisa has suffered enough through life as she has battled through various disabilities and learning difficulties.
“The family put their trust in the care providers to ensure Lisa could have a safe and fun day out but sadly it seems as though this was not the case.
“The worst part of this for Lisa is the psychological outcome rather than the physical injuries.
“To Lisa her wheelchair is a safe place to be and in her mind carers are safe people to be with, but this trust has been shattered and she is forced into yet another setback in her life.
“We need to investigate why Lisa was left unattended and why she was allowed to roll down a slope.”
A spokesman for Olympus Care Services said: “For legal reasons we are unable to comment on this particular case, however, we take any matters of safeguarding extremely seriously and ensure that all incidents are investigated thoroughly and independently.”
Please do not use the word suffer. ‘Woman with cerebral palsy’ is fine. ‘She suffered injuries’. But, please do not say cerebral palsy sufferer.