HSE warning to care homes

On 3rd September this year BUPA Care Homes (CFH Care) Limited were fined £15,000 after an elderly patient died in hospital following a fall from her bed while being dressed by a lone, inexperienced care worker. In response to the incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have extended a warning to all carers, management and care home operators to follow the correct training and procedures for the health and safety of patients.

Muriel Lindley, a patient at the BUPA-owned West Ridings Nursing Home in Lofthouse, was being washed and dressed for the day ahead when she fell from her bed on 13th July 2008. She fractured both of her legs in the accident and was admitted to hospital. Sadly, Mrs Lindley, who was 80 years old and a quadriplegic, died nine days later on 22nd July.

Wakefield Magistrates ordered BUPA to pay £10,500 costs in addition to the £15,000 fine after they pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. The court heard that health and safety policies clearly stated that the process of dressing patients should be carried out by two properly trained carers, and that this instruction was also included in a written assessment of Mrs Lindley’s individual needs.

The employee who was attending Mrs Lindley at the time of her accident was a fairly new member of staff who had only a limited knowledge of the procedures for moving and handling patients and did not complete the required formal training until the day on which she died.

Commenting on the outcome of the hearing, HSE Inspector Paul Robinson said: “This prosecution should serve as a reminder to all carers, management and care home operators of what can happen when the correct training and procedures aren’t adhered to – and why such policies and guidelines are put in place to safeguard patients in the first place.”