Care home provider fined nearly £25,000 for failing to protect elderly resident
A care home provider has been fined £24,981 for failing to protect an elderly resident who had 10 falls before he died from a traumatic head injury.
Claremont Care Services Limited was prosecuted at Brighton Magistrates’ Court by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in relation to the care provided to 75-year-old John Bowles at the Offington Park Care Home (pictured) in Worthing, West Sussex.
A CQC spokesman said that the carers had only sought emergency treatment for Mr Bowles on one occasion following a fall, going against guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care (Nice) for patients taking medication which decreases blood clotting.
He explained that Claremont Care Services was fined for failing to protect Mr Bowles “from significant risk of avoidable harm” and added that it had failed to inform and apologise to Mr Bowles’ family following his death.
The spokesman said: “On December 25 2019, Mr Bowles, a 75-year-old male resident, was admitted to the service after being discharged from hospital. When being discharged, the hospital told the home that Mr Bowles was at risk of falls.
“The provider was also made aware that Mr Bowles was taking medications which decreased blood clotting (anticoagulants).
“The National Institute for Health and Care (Nice) Guidelines advises that people on anticoagulants face greater risk from head injuries and should be urgently referred to hospital if they are injured in this way.
“Mr Bowles suffered an unwitnessed fall on the day of his admission, but no injury was recorded.
“Three days later, on December 28 2019, he suffered another unwitnessed fall and developed a lump on his head. He was taken to hospital where a scan found no head injury. This was the only time medical treatment was sought for Mr Bowles following a fall.
“Up to February 8 2020, Mr Bowles fell a further seven times, three of which caused him a head injury, but staff sought no medical treatment.
“On the morning of February 9 2020, he suffered another unwitnessed fall resulting in a head injury.
“Staff took physical observations but didn’t have any previous recordings to compare against. They offered to contact emergency services, but Mr Bowles declined, and staff complied with his wishes however, this went against Nice guidelines.
“Later that evening, staff heard a loud bang from Mr Bowles’ room. He said he banged the back of his head on the wall. Staff didn’t see an injury and didn’t seek medical treatment.
“A few hours later that night, staff found him walking in the corridor. He requested a specialist and staff offered to call emergency services but again he declined. Staff again didn’t follow Nice guidance.
“The next morning, on February 10 2020, staff found Mr Bowles unresponsive in bed and called 999. He was pronounced dead at hospital and was later determined to have died from a traumatic head injury.”
Natalie Reed, CQC deputy director of operations in the south, said: “Our sympathies are with Mr Bowles’ family following his potentially preventable death.
“People receiving care and treatment have the right to expect that any risks to their safety will be effectively managed and families or loved ones will be informed in an open and transparent manner as soon as possible.
“The failure of Claremont Care Services to manage Mr Bowles’ risks and ensure that they were following national guidance essential to his safety and wellbeing was unacceptable.
“Furthermore, the lack of openness and transparency shared by Claremont to his family just added distress.”
Claremont Care Services Limited has been approached for comment.
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