Care Home Failings led to Resident's Death

Tuesday, 12th June 2012

A 79 year old resident of a care home in Shrewsbury died following a fall while walking to a local shop with a member of staff to buy bread.

Joan Bloore had lived at Hartlands Rest Home in the Shropshire town for six weeks. Her care plan and handling assessment had made it clear that if Ms Bloore was going outside of the care home building she was to be transported in a wheelchair. However, on the day in question Ms Bloore was taken by a carer and a walking frame to a local grocery shop to buy some bread. Unfortunately when she was just outside the shop she fell sustaining a massive head injury. She was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital but died of a brain haemorrhage and pneumonia four days later.

The incident occurred on March 4th 2011 and sentencing will be heard at Shrewsbury Crown Court after magistrates decided the maximum £40,000 fine they could impose was not sufficient. The care home operating company D Roche Ltd have admitted two breaches under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974.