A care provider and manager have been ordered to pay fines and legal costs of over £145,000 following the death of a resident who developed pressure sores.

DM Care Limited, which ran Highbury House Care Home in Blackpool, was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay £18,000 in legal costs to the CQC, while home manager, Rebecca Tucker, was ordered to pay over £7,000.

Blackpool Magistrates’ Court heard how Mary Fallon’s condition deteriorated rapidly after Tucker attempted to treat her pressure sores rather than seek treatment from the district nursing team.

Mrs Fallon was found unresponsive in bed on 28 June 2019 and taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where pressure ulcers and deep tissue injuries were found on her heels, elbows, hip, buttock, natal cleft and toes.

She sadly died on 14 July 2019 with the primary cause of death multi-organ failure caused by septicaemia, pressure sores and generalised atherosclerosis.

Sheila Grant, CQC’s head of adult social care inspection, said: “Our sympathies are with those affected by the sad passing of Mary Fallon.

“Mrs Fallon had the right to be kept safe while living in and receiving care from DM Care Limited, but in this case the provider, and the manager Rebecca Tucker, failed in their legal duty to protect her from being exposed to significant harm. 

“The majority of care providers do an excellent job. However, when a provider puts people in its care at risk of harm, we will take action to hold them to account and to protect people.

“I hope the outcome of this prosecution reminds care providers of their duty to assess and manage all risks to ensure people are kept safe.”