AN elderly care home resident had sores that were allowed to become infected, putrid and horrible, an inquiry heard.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council in London has heard the condition of several residents at the Ravenscroft Nursing and Residential Home, Hilperton Road, Trowbridge, was allowed to deteriorate and sores went untreated and became infected.

The hearing was told that after falling ill an 85-year-old diabetic, known as Patient A, was taken into the home for round the clock care.

But her daughter soon became concerned that her mother was being neglected and lodged an official complaint with Wiltshire Health Authority.

Home manager Janice Kelly, 49, now faces being struck off for failing to provide adequate wound care management to a string of residents at the home. Christopher Alder, for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), told the panel concerns were first raised about the care of Patient A in June 2000.

He said: "Patient A's daughter soon realised her mother was very smelly and she thought this was because of her incontinence.

"During one visit she tried to take her mother's slippers off and noticed her foot was bandaged. They were very dirty, loose and coming off.

"She was concerned that the slippers were not very safe for her mother and as she took them off, her hand became wet as she touched the foot. "The smell of the foot was putrid and horrible."

Patient A was moved to another nursing home, before a spell in hospital where the sores on her heel were operated on again.

Mr Alder said the home had pressure-relieving equipment but had not used it on Patient A or treated her wounds.

Kelly admits failing to provide adequate wound care management for the woman's pressure sores. She further admits a similar charge in relation to Patient C, an arthritic woman in her 90s. When Patient C moved into the home she was suffering from a swollen knee but when her daughter visited she noticed her ankle was bandaged.

She became increasingly concerned about her mother's treatment and arranged to meet her GP at the home. Mr Alder said the woman was taken to hospital where it was discovered there was a sizeable hole in her heel, which was smelly and went down to the muscle.

A complaint was made to the National Care Standards Commission and an investigation launched. It was discovered that a pressure-relieving mattress was given to Patient C but not until 12 days into her stay.

Kelly also admits failing to tell the family of another frail resident that she had fallen out of bed until three weeks after the incident occurred. Kelly, of Lyneham, admits failing to keep adequate care plan records for four patients between July 7, 1999 and October 1, 1999.

But the manageress denies further charges relating to patient safety on four occasions between February and May 2001. The hearing continues.