A care provider has been ordered to pay a total of £10,181 at Bradford Magistrates’ Court, after it failed to protect a resident from exposure to a significant risk of avoidable harm.
Greystones Nursing Home Limited which operates Greystones Nursing Home in Bradford was fined £5,000 in court today (Thursday 16 November). It was also ordered to pay a £181 victim surcharge and £5,000 costs to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which brought this prosecution.
Greystones Nursing Home is a residential care home. It provides personal and nursing care for up to 31 people who are living with dementia or mental health conditions.
William Allen (known as Billy) had a significant medical history, which included poor mental and physical health. He was admitted to Greystones Nursing Home on 7 November 2019, he was 75 years old. While at Greystones Nursing Home, Billy was assessed as being at high risk of falls. Billy sadly died on 1 March 2020.
During his time at the home, there had been 23 recorded incidents involving him falling, placing himself on the floor and being found by staff, or having unexplained injuries. Six of these incidents resulted in him being admitted to hospital.
The provider didn’t take sufficient action as a result of these incidents to mitigate the risk of these reoccurring. Also, risk assessments and care plans were not reviewed and updated after each one, as required.
The provider also failed to ensure there was safe management of medicines at the home in relation to Billy’s care. This included failures in relation to recording and administration of medication.
Sheila Grant, CQC deputy director of operations in the north said:
Billy 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.
This fine is not representative of the value of his life, but this, and the prosecution reminds all care providers they must always ensure people’s safety and manage risks to their wellbeing.
The majority of care providers do an excellent job but when they don’t, we can and will take action to hold them to account and protect people.