Care home provider fined for not protecting resident

A care home provider has been fined almost £25,000 for failing to protect an elderly resident in West Sussex.

Claremont Care Services Limited was fined £24,981 at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday in relation to the care provided to 75-year-old John Bowles at Offington Park Care Home in Worthing - which changed providers since his death in 2020.

Mr Bowles had 10 falls before he died from a traumatic head injury, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said.

Claremont Care Services Limited has been approached for comment.

'Potentially preventable'

The CQC said Claremont Care Services was fined for failing to protect Mr Bowles "from significant risk of avoidable harm" and added that it failed to inform and apologise to Mr Bowles’ family following his death.

Carers had only sought emergency treatment for Mr Bowles on one occasion following a fall, going against National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines for patients taking medication which decreases blood clotting, the CQC said.

Mr Bowles was found unresponsive in February 2020 and was pronounced dead at hospital.

The CQC's Natalie Reed said Mr Bowles' death was "potentially preventable".

'Unacceptable'

“People receiving care and treatment have the right to expect that any risks to their safety will be effectively managed and families or loved ones will be informed in an open and transparent manner as soon as possible," she added.

Ms Reed said the failure from the care provider to manage the resident's risks and ensure they were following national guidance was "unacceptable".

“Furthermore, the lack of openness and transparency shared by Claremont to his family just added distress.”

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.