Three pensioners died after shocking neglect at a Wolverhampton care home, a misconduct hearing was told today.

Mary Ellam’s broken hip was not diagnosed, a 64-year-old woman suffered pressure sores all over her body and an 82-year-old died when kidney failure was not detected, it was claimed.

The former boss of the now defunct Cranmere Court Nursing Home in Tettenhall is accused of brushing off serious concerns about residents’ health.

Leonard Bevan, aged 57, from Wolverhampton, was at the helm for more than two years despite not being qualified, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has heard.

Today the hearing was told the 64-year-old woman, identified only as Patient A, died within six months of moving in and was fed  yoghurt instead of meals.

She had Down’s Syndrome and epilepsy but could care for herself and walk unaided before she was admitted in 2000.

Within a few months she was said to have been bedridden, incontinent and her body was covered in  sores.

Among the claims are that patient Mrs Ellam’s foot was pointing the wrong way indicating a broken hip, yet a doctor was still not called.

It was one of a series of alleged blunders concerning three elderly residents who died between June 2000 and November 2002.

The hearing was told yesterday how Mrs Ellam had suffered a stroke just days before her worried daughter noticed the bruising and reported it to senior nurse Bevan. He sought medical advice eight days later.

The panel also heard how an 82-year-old Parkinson’s Disease and dementia sufferer named as Patient C died from kidney failure after Bevan mistakenly diagnosed a hernia. The 20-bed home closed in 2003.

The hearing continues.