NEWS
BUPA CARE HOMES FINED £400,000 OVER BEDRAIL FAILURES
BUPA Care Homes (CFC Homes) Ltd has been fined over the inappropriate management of bedrails at one of its care homes.
Following an earlier guilty plea in Carlisle Magistrates’ Court the District Judge referred the case to Carlisle Crown Court for sentencing.
The HSE told the court that at Beacon Edge Specialist Nursing Home in Penrith, Cumbria, BUPA Care Homes (CFC Homes) Ltd failed to ensure it managed the risk of bedrails through appropriate assessment and review of bedrail arrangements, and failed to train staff.
The court was told the company had a policy on bedrail management but it was not fully implemented as staff were not trained and assessments not conducted or reviewed.
AN EXPERT’S OPINION
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has hired primary care professional Alison Holbourn to its senior team.
Currently Chief Executive Officer of the GP-led social enterprise, Warrington Health Plus, Ms Holbourn is set to join CQC in August as Deputy Chief Inspector of Primary Care.
Reporting to the Chief Inspector of General Practice, Professor Steve Field, the new role will support the current inspection programme for primary medical services.
Speaking about her appointment Alison Holbourn commented: “I am delighted to be joining the CQC primary care
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The case related to the management of bedrails in relation to a vulnerable resident who died at the home. The company failed to ensure the patient’s bedrail assessment was suitable and sufficient, reviewed following falls and deterioration in health and that staff were trained in bedrail risk assessment.
The reviews of the bedrail assessment should have identified further measures to prevent the risk of falls, but staff that carried out the initial assessment and reviews were not adequately trained. Furthermore, measures identified to protect the resident where not implemented correctly and increased checks on the resident were not carried out as instructed by a medical professional.
At the hearing BUPA Care Homes (CFC Homes) Ltd admitted breaching Section 3 of the Health & Safety at Work Act and was fined £400,000 with £15,206 costs.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Carol Forster said: “The need for adequate risk assessment and management of third party bedrails has been recognised in
team. This is a fascinating and fast- moving time for the sector and I’m happy to be joining an organisation that helps to improve care for patients across the country and that highlights best practice.”
The new recruit will be one of four deputy chief inspectors in the Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care Directorate and will have responsibility for regulatory activity in the north of England, leading a team of around 70.
Professor Steve Field said: ‘We recognise that the way care is delivered is changing and the way we register, monitor and inspect will evolve to reflect these changes and new models of care.
‘Alison’s solid experience of leading new models, in particular her work
the healthcare sector for a number of years and guidance and advice has been published by the relevant bodies to this effect.
“Bedrails are used to protect vulnerable people from falling out of bed but each patient should be assessed individually and appropriate measures taken to protect them from falls from bed. Staff working with bedrails must be appropriately trained in the use of bedrails and in the patient assessment process.
“In this case there was a lack of appropriate assessment of the residents’ changing needs and review of the control measures in place to protect her. The measures that were in place were not used correctly in that the sensor pad which would have alerted staff to the resident’s being out of bed was not switched on.
“The company failed to comply with the expected standards in bedrail management and training and I hope this case will send a strong message to others with responsibilities for bedrail management.”
with the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund, make her an asset to the organisation as we complete our current inspection cycle and develop our five-year plan.’
Ms Holbourn has worked in primary care from the 1990s, in management, academic, research and consultancy roles. Previous posts include director of GP-led social enterprise, Salford Health Matters, head of primary care and associate director North Cheshire Health (Authority), GP fund holding manager at Castlefields Health Centre, and academic and consultant roles in primary care and primary care contracts. She has significant academic interests in health care, having worked as a senior lecturer at the University of Chester, University of Manchester, Liverpool John Moores University and Cass Business School.
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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