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Care Home Fined £10k After Resident's Life-Changing Fall
17 Feb
Summary
- Care home fined £10,000 for failing to ensure window safety.
- Resident sustained life-changing injuries from a first-floor fall.
- Windows lacked legally required safety restrictors, posing a risk.
A care home provider, Crest House Care Ltd, has been fined £10,000 following a serious incident on July 18, 2022, where a resident fell from a first-floor window, resulting in life-changing injuries. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment, leading to avoidable harm. Brighton magistrates also ordered the firm to pay £14,764.47 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
The injuries sustained by the resident were severe, including multiple fractures to the spine, femur, and foot, along with a scalp haemorrhage. The resident has since undergone multiple surgeries and continues to experience mobility problems. The care home admitted that the windows did not have the legally mandated safety restrictors, breaching regulations designed to prevent falls from height by ensuring windows open no more than 10cm.
Following the incident, Crest House Care Ltd stated they cooperated fully with the CQC and have since invested significantly in upgrading windows and safety restrictors, alongside strengthening policies. The company emphasized resident safety as their priority and noted the court acknowledged the substantial improvements made, deeming future harm unlikely. The CQC urged all care providers to verify their window restrictors meet safety standards to prevent similar tragedies.
