Caring Homes has agreed to pay £500 for distress caused and write-off 50% of outstanding fees after a family member complained about the care of her mother-in-law who fell out of bed and suffered an injury that led to her death.

The woman, referred to as Mrs X, was admitted to Abbeycrest Nursing Home in Sonning Common, Berkshire in February 2021.

Mrs X had a further falls risk assessment on 10 June 2021 when she was receiving all care in bed and was assessed as being at high risk of falls.

She was found on the floor next to her bed on 16 June 2021 at around 1am having suffered head and leg injuries.

Mrs X sadly passed away at the home on 21 June 2021 after declining to be admitted to hospital.

Her cause of death was an intracranial haemorrhage following the fall from her bed.

The Ombudsman said: “There is no evidence to show the home should have put bed guards up before Ms X fell out of bed, but other safety measures should have been implemented after the Falls Risk Assessment on 10 June 2021, if not before.”

A spokesperson for Caring Homes said: “Evelyn was a much loved member of our community, and our thoughts and sympathies are with her family.

“As the Ombudsman noted, we have rigorous risk assessment procedures based on previous history, active risk and communications with our residents and their families. In this instance, Evelyn’s physical condition required her to be repositioned in her bed by carers every few hours as she was unable to do this independently. She told carers that she did not want bed rails, which should be used cautiously, in line with our policies, given the risk they pose.

“Nevertheless, we acknowledge that there are other actions that could have been taken to minimise the risk from falls and we have taken onboard learnings around appropriate recording of risk assessments, care plans and communications with families. This includes, but is not limited to, reviewing our policies related to prevention and management of falls, and the safe use of fall related equipment. Staff, residents and their families have been informed of these changes.

“The health and wellbeing of residents is our absolute priority and we will always use learnings to build on, and improve, the services we provide.”