Themes | Social Care | The Accountability Index

Care home alert systems

Failure of alert systems in care homes to effectively notify staff of residents requiring assistance or at risk.

Strongest theme matches

Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.

Indicative ranking
PFD report
85match
Terence Hawkins
Dec 2016 · London (East)
There was no system for regular medical monitoring of care home residents, with one not seen by a GP for months. Difficulties in arranging assessments for non-attending residents highlighted the need for regular, on-site GP reviews.
Matched on terms: care, home, system
PFD report
85match
Sheila Ross
Mar 2018 · Sunderland
The care home used an outdated falls risk assessment, had a limited buzzer system unable to provide timely assistance, and exhibited poor communication with the family.
Matched on terms: care, home, system
PFD report
81match
John Edwards
Jan 2018 · Staffordshire (South)
The care home was unable to manage complex needs, demonstrating inadequate policies for falls and pressure sores, poor record-keeping, and a failure to administer prescribed medication or seek timely medical assistance for deterioration.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
77match
George Hulme
Jan 2015 · Manchester (South)
Care home agency staff lacked resident identification information and adequate induction. Rooms were not clearly marked, leading to confusion during emergencies and incorrect patient file retrieval for treatment.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
77match
Jean Gillespie
Nov 2015 · Blackpool and Fylde
Senior care staff lacked awareness of a resident's life-threatening condition and medication, failing to appreciate the urgency of re-ordering supplies. Care home records also lacked critical information about the condition.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
77match
Doris McCarthy
Jul 2018 · London (South)
Concerns persist about sensor system outages failing to alert staff to falls and inadequate safeguards for residents prone to sliding in chairs.
Matched on terms: alert, system
PFD report
77match
Christine Neild
Oct 2020 · Greater Manchester South
The care home failed to prevent residents with learning disabilities from accessing hazardous items, didn't escalate previous incidents, and lacked adequate night staff monitoring for wandering residents.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Joseph Godfrey
Mar 2014 · London (East)
Care staff and paramedics lacked awareness of warfarin-related bleeding risks in elderly fall patients. Care home staff failed to follow observation protocols, document checks, or access medical history, and BUPA's investigation was insufficient.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Sidney Barnett
Jun 2015 · Manchester (South)
The care home provided inadequate observation and general welfare for the client, and the subsequent safeguarding investigation was flawed, relying too heavily on unverified staff statements.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Davin Short
Jun 2015 · Norfolk
The prison's lack of an electronic cell bell recording system and unclear guidance on radio use for healthcare staff create risks of medical emergencies being overlooked or delayed, endangering prisoners.
Matched on terms: care, system
PFD report
73match
Norman Dorn
Jan 2016 · Cornwall
Cornwall care homes may lack adequate or updated policies for recognising and confirming death and for resuscitation, with staff often lacking awareness and proper training.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Daphne Cherry
Mar 2017 · Gloucestershire
Concerns exist regarding care home staff's ability to identify and appropriately escalate medical concerns, including when a medical review is needed.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Mavis Reeves
Feb 2018 · Bedfordshire and Luton
The analogue Careline system caused significant delays for emergency services due to connection times, a single phone line, and key safe access issues, potentially unknown to residents.
Matched on terms: care, system
PFD report
73match
Joan Wright
Dec 2018 · Manchester (South)
Issues included inconsistent opioid handling, unaddressed statutory oversight for drug responsibilities, police failure to recognise safeguarding risks in medication errors, and a lack of statutory definition for "regular" medication checks in care homes.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Edna Davenport
Apr 2020 · Black Country
The care home failed to provide a disabled patient with a call alarm or adequate observations, lacked documentation for care plans, and did not properly assess or manage the risk posed by an aggressive resident, leading to an assault and neglect of head injury monitoring.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Dereck John Chapman
Aug 2020 · Blackpool & Fylde
Nursing home staff provided an insufficient response to a high-fall-risk dementia patient, failing to account for his communication difficulties. Additionally, poor and unreliable record-keeping compromised accurate care narrative and incident review.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Anthony Slack
Dec 2020 · Greater Manchester South
The care home suffered from poor documentation and observation quality, unclear Covid-19 infection control (no admission risk assessment), and staff confusion over PPE. Ambulance delays also impacted patient transfer.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
73match
Arthur Johnson
Jan 2021 · Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Care home's "Post-Falls" policy lacked clarity on when to call emergency services for possible head injuries, and staff training on recognising intracranial injury was insufficient.
Matched on terms: care, home
CQC action
70match
Shenstone Hall Nursing Home
Must Do
The provider must ensure call bells are accessible to the majority of people within communal areas and that call bells for people’s rooms are always answered promptly to facilitate seeking staff assistance.
Matched on terms: home
PFD report
69match
Phylliss Letcher
Aug 2018 · Isles of Scilly
The care home lacked live CCTV monitoring for staircases, had no key fob access control, and no alarm if the stairgate was left open, creating unrestricted access to dangerous areas.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
69match
Gloria Mekins
May 2019 · Teesside and Hartlepool
A Health Care Assistant failed to perform first aid during a choking incident, and confusion over a DNA CPR order caused delays. The care home also failed to investigate or identify these critical issues internally.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
69match
Edward Mallaby
Dec 2020 · Sunderland
The care home lacked clear policy for handling hazardous personal property and a functioning sensor mat for falls detection. Observation protocols were unclear, and no rapid learning exercise followed the incident.
Matched on terms: care, home
CQC action
69match
St. David's Home
Should Do
We recommend the provider monitor and assess the use of the call bell system to identify if there are issues with not answering the call bells on time, and if so to identify what these are so they could be addressed.
Matched on terms: home, system
PFD report
65match
Jane Dyson Gabbitas
Dec 2013 · West Yorkshire (Western)
An open residential unit lacked a formal system to record and monitor resident absences, leading to staff being unaware of a resident's prolonged disappearance until her body was discovered.
Matched on terms: system
PFD report
65match
Jacqueline Scott
Mar 2016 · London Inner (West)
The BIPAP machine's battery alarm is visually obscured and lacks a distinct sound, hindering staff recognition of critical power loss due to inadequate training. The ward lacked isolated power supply, and there was no system to detect mains power failure.
Matched on terms: system
PFD report
65match
Joseph Tarnowski
Aug 2017 · Manchester (South)
A resident was unable to effectively use a call-bell due to potential unawareness of its portability or mobility limitations, highlighting a lack of consideration for alternative wearable alarm systems.
Matched on terms: system
PFD report
61match
Sandra Wordingham
Dec 2013 · Cardiff & the Vale of Glamorgan
A nursing home failed to seek timely medical opinion for an unconscious resident, delaying identification of a severe condition and risking unnecessary death if early intervention was possible.
Matched on terms: home
PFD report
61match
Connor Sparrowhawk
Nov 2015 · Oxfordshire
The bath time observation policy for epileptic patients is inadequate, with concerns about the effectiveness of sound-only monitoring and potential staff distraction. The RIO system also lacks sufficient fields for comprehensive epilepsy information, hindering staff access.
Matched on terms: system
PFD report
61match
Margaret Metcalfe
Mar 2016 · Teesside
Both a patient's hand-held buzzer and specialist bed alarm failed to alert staff when she got out of bed, resulting in a fall that was only discovered by hearing a 'thud'.
Matched on terms: alert
PFD report
61match
Ronald Farrington
Dec 2017 · Surrey
The care centre failed to implement specialist nursing advice, kept inaccurate records, and didn't seek medical attention for infection, exacerbated by inadequate tissue viability nurse staffing and poor CQC oversight.
Matched on terms: care
PFD report
61match
Roy Campbell
Mar 2020 · Worcestershire
Inadequate systems to prevent detained patients from absconding included a flawed visitor tracking system and environmental checks not properly implemented or enshrined in policy with mandatory staff training.
Matched on terms: system
PFD report
61match
Kenneth Clarke
Feb 2020 · Derby and Derbyshire
The nursing home lacked formal policies for crucial areas including resident observation, food storage security, managing dementia residents, and caring for patients on liquid diets.
Matched on terms: home
PFD report
57match
James McArdle
Jun 2014 · Wirral
The withdrawal of a coloured wristband system for falls risk without replacement removed a vital protection, increasing the risk of falls for elderly patients.
Matched on terms: system
PFD report
57match
Carl Foot
Oct 2015 · London Inner (North)
Delayed prison cell bell responses, lack of a system to track bell activation times, and inadequate post-incident review contributed to a prisoner's death.
Matched on terms: system
PFD report
57match
Michael Bingham
Jul 2017 · Manchester (South)
Harbour Healthcare failed to implement alarms for insecure internal doors, highlighting a risk assessment "blind spot." The CQC must review regulations and inspection procedures for door safety, and Stockport NHS guidelines lack clarity on CT scan requirements.
Matched on terms: care
PFD report
57match
Beryl Walsh
Nov 2018 · Manchester (North)
There were multiple missed opportunities to identify the deceased as a high falls risk, escalate care to the falls team, or implement falls prevention equipment and assessments.
Matched on terms: care
PFD report
57match
Patrick Kelly
Apr 2019 · South Yorkshire (West)
Care centres fail to prioritise dental hygiene and services, leading to potentially worsened conditions and lacking policies for managing missed appointments or identifying dental care needs.
Matched on terms: care
PFD report
53match
Olive Nugent
Mar 2015 · Newcastle Upon Tyne
Falls activator device responses were delayed due to subjective prioritisation and insufficient staffing, particularly for non-verbal users, leaving vulnerable individuals without timely assistance.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
53match
Kathleen Devine
Nov 2017 · Manchester (West)
A high-risk falls resident sustained injuries due to an unplugged falls mat, unrecorded observations, and inadequate handover information for agency staff regarding critical safety measures.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
53match
Robert Lowe
Sep 2019 · Durham and Darlington
Ineffective placement of pressure mats allowed residents to bypass them, and unreliable audible alarms meant falls went undetected by staff.
Matched on classifier match
LGO / SPSO decision
52match
NIPSO-17159 - Somerton Nursing Home
NIPSO (NI Public Services Ombudsman)
An investigation has revealed that a nursing home failed to fully record its observations of a resident's head injury following a fall, and did not call an ambulance to take him to hospital until almost eight hours after the incident.
Matched on terms: home
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
21-014-254 - Somerset County Council
LGO (Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman)
Summary: A care home providing care on behalf of the Council, made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Ms X to notify her of her father’s deteriorating health and his subsequent death. There is no fault in the care home then notifying the second recorded contact.
Matched on terms: care, home
PFD report
49match
Margaret Connor
May 2014 · Norfolk
Inadequate procedures for wheelchair checks resulted in faulty equipment, while communication breakdowns led to doctors being misinformed about a patient's injury despite staff and family concerns.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Hilda Cole
Oct 2014 · Staffordshire (South)
The pendant alarm provider failed to adequately inform customers about additional safety features, specifically the option to link to fire alarms, creating an unaddressed fire risk for vulnerable users.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
David Hughes
Feb 2016 · Leicestershire City and South Leicestershire
Critical patient observations were inconsistently performed and recorded, fluid balance charts were meaningless, patient bedrooms lacked call bells, and nursing staff showed insufficient understanding of physical illness signs.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Norman Beard
Oct 2016 · Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire
Poor management, staff shortages, and lack of policies contributed to neglected pressure ulcers and significant weight loss. Delayed specialist referrals and ignored medical advice compounded the patient's deteriorating condition.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Roger Tombs
Feb 2017 · Birmingham and Solihull
Fall sensor mats were improperly placed on crash mats, potentially reducing their effectiveness and increasing the risk of undetected falls, injury, and death for vulnerable residents.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Doris Douthwaite
Sep 2018 · Manchester (South)
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.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Anne Roberts
Oct 2018 · Berskhire
Inadequate training for bank staff on choking risks, poor dissemination of this information in patient records, and difficulties managing choking risks alongside self-harm concerns for patients eating in bedrooms were identified.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Ronald Houchin
Nov 2018 · South Yorkshire (West)
Falls risk assessments were not consistently followed, resulting in inadequate assistance and supervision for mobilising, and multiple preventable falls for the patient.
Matched on classifier match
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