Care home fined over resident's death

The Care Quality Commission took Ashburton House to court following a resident's death in 2022

A care home has been fined after one of its residents died following a fall at the property.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it took Devon-based Ashburton House Care Home Limited to court over its treatment of Robin Lee, who sustained serious injuries when he fell down steps in another resident's bathroom in May 2022.

The care home's bosses pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on Friday to failing to provide safe care and treatment to Mr Lee, who had dementia, and were ordered to pay a fine of £48,000, a £190 victim surcharge and costs of £14,150.30.

A spokesperson for the care home said it accepted the court's finding and had made improvements since the incident.

'Unacceptable' risk management

The CQC said Mr Lee, who arrived at Ashburton House, in Ashburton, in January 2022, had been highlighted as being "high risk" for falls after several incidents.

"Despite his room being on the ground floor, he regularly used the stairs and entered other residents' bedrooms unaccompanied," the regulator said.

It added records at the care home showed staff had found Mr Lee, who needed a Zimmer frame to move around, upstairs on at least two previous occasions.

The CQC said while staff had identified the need to house Mr Lee on the ground floor, it had "failed to adequately consider his access to the stairs" in risk assessments.

Cath Campbell, CQC's deputy director of operations in the south, said: "The failure of Ashburton House to manage risks and follow essential guidance to manage risk to Mr Lee's safety and wellbeing was unacceptable."

The care home said it extended its sincere condolences to Mr Lee's family.

A statement said it had worked alongside the authorities and made changes to how it operated.

"Since [Mr Lee's death], under new management, we have built on existing systems by strengthening governance, enhancing staff training, refining record-keeping, and increasing oversight of day-to-day care," the statement added.