Care home 'ignored fall prevention advice'

The care home has until September to outline what action it is going to take

A woman died from a fall after a care home failed to take prevention measures despite repeated advice, a coroner has said.

Patricia Heaviside fell a number of times while she was living at Howlish Hall in Bishop Auckland between February 2023 and December 2024, but hip protectors and a sensory mat were never provided.

Assistant coroner for County Durham and Darlington Rebecca Sutton said there had been "reluctance" among senior members of staff to pay for the equipment.

Howlish Hall has been approached for a comment.

Ms Heaviside died on 26 December 2024 at the age of 85 after breaking her hip.

Her death was the consequence of a fall she suffered in her room at Howlish Hall Care Home on 4 October, an inquest found.

She had surgery and was moved to a different care home on 3 December, due to "ongoing family concerns".

'Wouldn't want to pay'

A document published by the coroner on Thursday, known as a prevention of future deaths report, said Ms Heaviside had suffered a number of falls while she lived at Howlish Hall.

In August 2023, the Community Falls Service advised the home manager to place a sensor box in her room and said she should use hip protectors, which could be purchased by the family.

"The home did not follow these recommendations and did not inform the family of the option to purchase hip protectors," the coroner said.

A social worker attended the home on 27 September 2024 after the family reported concerns.

According to the report, the deputy manager had told the family the month before that the owner of Howlish Hall "probably wouldn't want to pay for a sensor mat".

"The home staff assured the social worker that they had a sensor mat that they would place next to [Ms Heaviside]'s bed, but this was not done," assistant coroner Sutton said.

She added she had received evidence there had been a "reluctance" from the care home owner to "provide adequate resources for falls prevention equipment".

A response outlining action to be taken has to be submitted to the coroner by 5 September.