A Scottish NHS board has been fined £180,000 over the demise of a pensioner who fell from his hospital mattress thrice.
NHS Highland had beforehand admitted a breach of well being and security laws at Inverness Sheriff Court.
The court docket was advised 78-year-old Colin Lloyd was admitted to Raigmore Hospital on 6 February 2019 following a fall at residence.
He was assessed as unsuitable for mattress rails however was at “high risk” of falling and required one-to-one care and remark.
The room Mr Lloyd was transferred to was managed by a workers nurse who was taking care of two rooms of six beds and aiding in triage in one other room, which means he didn’t obtain the one-to-one care wanted.
During his time in hospital, he fell from the mattress thrice.
He suffered bleeding within the mind, and after his situation worsened, he died on the ward on 16 February 2019.
‘The tragic demise might have been prevented’
The Crown Office claimed workers repeatedly made requests for added nurses to assist present the care Mr Lloyd wanted as there have been new admissions to take care of and different sufferers with enhanced wants.
The prosecutor acknowledged on the time there was no obvious general view of staffing requests throughout wards or formal system in place to escalate unfilled staffing requests or to overview the scenario to search for different options.
Speaking after sentencing, Debbie Carroll, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, stated: “The tragic death of Colin Lloyd could have been prevented had suitable and sufficient measures been put in place.
“Highland well being board did not have efficient preparations and management measures in place to forestall or mitigate falls to sufferers recognized as being in danger and, because of this, Colin Lloyd suffered deadly head trauma.
“This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to manage and implement effective measures can have fatal consequences and they will be held accountable for this failure.”
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‘We are deeply sorry’
NHS Highland apologised for the failures made throughout Mr Lloyd’s care.
Fiona Hogg, director of individuals and tradition, stated: “We are deeply sorry for the failures identified in our care that led to the death of a patient at Raigmore Hospital in 2019.
“We recognise the lasting damage this may have induced to those that beloved and cared for Mr Lloyd and we’re sorry for letting them down. Our inner overview following the incident recognized a number of areas of enchancment and, because of this, now we have made quite a lot of adjustments to our techniques and observe.
“This includes clearer, more responsive processes for escalating staff shortages, the introduction of volunteers to provide additional support and companionship for older people in the acute hospital setting, and enhanced training for staff caring for people who are at risk of falling.”
Source: information.sky.com”