Care company fined £10,000 after resident's death at Shropshire home

Phyllis Jones died at Westlands Care Home in Wem in 2013 after falling on a bed lever that compressed her neck and stopped her breathing.

The home has since closed, but its owner Coverage Care Services Limited was summoned to Shrewsbury Crown Court.

David Coull, chief executive of the firm, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to failing to implement measures that were reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety of Mrs Jones while she was a resident.

He also admitted the company had failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with the use of an Easylever Bed Grab Rail that had been used by the 90-year-old while a resident in the company's care.

The court hearing yesterday was told how Mrs Jones, from Whixall, had been living in independent, private accommodation but had started to become increasingly dependent on others, and after a couple of spells of respite at Westlands Care Home in 2010, she ended up a permanent resident by March 2011.

The grab rail had been brought into the home by her family for her to get in and out of bed independently.

An inquest last year heard that Mrs Jones was found lying face down with her neck resting over a bed grab rail and her body on the floor at the home on February 27, 2013.

The grab rail was found to be not securely strapped.

An inquest a jury ruled Mrs Jones died as a result of asphyxia.

Mr Kevin Saunders, prosecuting, told Shrewsbury Crown Court there had been an "outright failure" by the home to identify Mrs Jones was using the grab rail in its paperwork, and that the systems they had in place, failed to identify its risk.

The prosecutor also told the court that just two weeks prior to Mrs Jones' death, she had been found kneeling beside her bed, after slipping off her bed, and her arm had been entangled on the grab rail.

"This incident should have raised alarm bells and should have alarmed the company that the systems that it had in place should have been reviewed, inspected and assessed," he said.

Mr Matthew Snarr, representing the firm, said following Mrs Jones' death changes been made so bed levers undergo weekly risk assessments.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Barrie said it was a "sad and serious incident".

As well as fining the firm, Mr Barrie also ordered the company to pay a contribution of £8,000 towards costs.

Coverage Care Services Limited expressed its "deepest respect and sympathy" for the family of Mrs Jones and said lessons had been learned.

A spokesman said: "This was an incident which should not have occurred and we have made huge efforts to learn from it."

Westlands Care Home closed last year and saw residents and staff relocated to other homes.