Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Doris Douthwaite

Ref: 2018-0294 Date: 3 Sep 2018 Coroner: Chris Morris Area: Manchester (South) Responses identified: 0 / 1 View PDF

Vulnerable residents with dementia were left unsupervised due to unclear policies, an ambiguous falls risk assessment tool, and a lack of investigation into multiple falls, missing learning opportunities.

Date 3 Sep 2018
56-day deadline 29 Oct 2018
Responses identified 0 of 1
Care Home Health related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary
Vulnerable residents with dementia were left unsupervised due to unclear policies, an ambiguous falls risk assessment tool, and a lack of investigation into multiple falls, missing learning opportunities.
View full coroner's concerns
The evidence before the court suggested that at Greatwood House, vulnerable residents including residents with dementia such as Mrs Douthwaite, be left unsupervised at times in communa areas by carers undertaking other tasks. The evidence before the court was that there are currently no clear written requirements in force across HC One'$ homes mandating the attendance of a colleague to monitor the communal area in question before leaving it unattended; The Risk of Falls Assessment Tool currently used across HC-One' $ homes was demonstrated in court to be unclear and susceptible to different interpretations: When asked about it in the course of her evidence, HC-One'$ Area Director was not aware as to whether or not this Assessment Tool had recently been benchmarked as against others used within the industry; Notwithstanding the fact Mrs Douthwaite had 3 falls over the course ofas many days in February 2018, HC One had not; asat the date of the Inquest; undertaken any investigation into the circumstances of these. The absence of any investigation by HC-One in this respect represents a missed opportunity to ascertain if any learning can be derived from these incidents for the benefit of other residents:

Report sections

Investigation and inquest
On 13TH March 2018, Rachel Galloway, Assistant Coroner, opened an Inquest into the death of Mrs Doris Douthwaite, who died at Willow Wood Hospice, Ashton-Under-Lyne o 26th February 2018, 93 vears. The investigation concluded at the of the Inquest which heard on 28th August 2018 At the end of the Inquest, recorded a narrative conclusion that Mrs Douthwaite died as a consequence of bronchopneumonia. Whilst she would have been at risk of developing this condition in any event, it is that her death was contributed to by a hip fracture sustained in a fall at her care home_
Action should be taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action: may and

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Report details

Reference
2018-0294
Date of report
3 September 2018
Coroner
Chris Morris
Coroner area
Manchester (South)

Responses identified

Responses identified 0 of 1
1 response not yet linked

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 29 Oct 2018.

Sent to

HC-One

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