Yorkshire care provider fined £5k for "catastrophically" failing resident

A care provider has been fined £5,000 for "catastrophically" failing to protect a resident from falling in a prosecution bought by the health and care regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) prosecuted Greystones Nursing Home Ltd, which runs Greystones Nursing Home, Bradford.

A 75-year-old man living at the home fell 23 times in four months after he moved to the home in November 2019.

The firm had admitted the offences at an earlier hearing at Bradford Magistrates' Court.

The CQC said Greystones was a residential care home which provided personal and nursing care for up to 31 people with dementia or mental health problems.

It said resident William Allen had poor mental and physical health when he was admitted on 7 November 2019 and was assessed as being at a high risk of falls.

Before his death on 1 March 2020, there were 23 incidents recorded of him falling, placing himself on the floor and being found by staff or having unexplained injuries. Six of these resulted in Mr Allen being admitted to hospital.

CQC deputy director of operations in the north, Sheila Grant, said Mr Allen was "catastrophically let down by the care he received from Greystones Nursing Home, which led to him being exposed to a significant risk of avoidable harm. It failed in its duty to protect him, in a place he called home, where he should have been safe and receiving the best possible care to meet his individual needs."

The CQC added that the home had also failed to update Mr Allen's risk assessments and care plans after each fall and had failed to ensure there was safe management of his medicines.

Ms Grant said the fine imposed did not represent the value of his life, but she hoped it would remind all care providers they "must always ensure people's safety and manage risks to their wellbeing."

In addition to the fine, the firm was also ordered to pay costs of £5,000 and a £181 victim surcharge.