A nursing facility has found itself under scrutiny as it faces special measures following a tragic incident involving a resident’s fatal choking, shedding light on significant safety oversights.
Ashcroft House in Leeds came under fire with an inadequate rating subsequent to an inspection triggered by the mentioned fatality and another resident sustaining injuries from a wardrobe collapse.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) labelled the living conditions within the facility as “hazardous” and has initiated an investigation to determine if additional measures are necessary.
Citing concerns about choking and environmental hazards, the CQC expressed worry over the lack of choking care plans for at-risk individuals and insufficient precautions taken by staff to mitigate such risks, even after a fatal incident had occurred.
Inspectors found the facility’s environment to be inadequately maintained and hazardous, with examples including uncovered scalding radiators and improperly secured wardrobes, despite previous warnings and incidents.
Furthermore, staff were noted for their failure to consistently seek residents’ preferences or consent for care, potentially infringing upon their human rights.
Concerns were also raised regarding the safe management of residents’ medications, with instances of prescribed medications not being administered for days, a practice which could cause significant harm with disastrous consequences.
The Enhanced health in care homes (EHCH) Framework dictates that every resident should have a comprehensive personalised assessment of their needs and a personalised care and support plan within 7 days of being readmitted or admitted, into a care home. However, the CQC found that residents care “wasn’t always tailored to meet their individual needs or manage serious risks to their safety.”
Care Home Concerns
The purpose of a care home is to provide proactive and personalised care for residents which supports them to live (and die) well in their care home, so naturally these findings at Ashcroft House raise serious concerns.
Choking incidents in a care home are surprisingly common. It is crucial, therefore for a care home to ensure implementation of stringent risk management and choking procedures to ensure resident safety. Failure to do so is a breach of duty in the care owed to them.
We would urge anyone who thinks their relative might be in a similar situation to get help now.
Our specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers deal with all types of care home claims. We work closely with our clients and their families to enable the victim to recover the compensation for the pain, suffering and losses they have incurred. If you suspect that you or your family member has sustained an avoidable injury as a result of care provided in a care home, hospital or any other care setting please call us for an informal chat to see if we can help you pursue the matter further.
We can also help following the death of a loved one in a care or nursing home. Our expert Inquest team of solicitors will advise and support through every step of the investigatory process, to determine how your loved one came to pass. We work closely with both our personal injury and clinical negligence teams to ensure that you and your family members are guided through the emotionally distressing circumstances of any form of care home negligence.
Please call us on 0113 284 5000 to discuss your case.
