Recurring concern
Unreliable fall-mat safety controls
- Reports that mention this concern
- 14
- Times this concern has been raised
- 18
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 20
What this concern includes
Includes failures of dedicated fall-mat systems, including crash mats, sensor mats and comparable bedside fall mats, where provision, suitability, coverage, positioning, wireless activation, alerting or associated operating instructions do not reliably support falls prevention or detection.
What is not included
- Excludes general falls-risk assessment, supervision, staffing or post-fall response failures where no fall-mat control is deficient.
- Excludes pressure-relief mats, pressure mats used for purposes other than falls detection, mattresses and other equipment unless the assertion specifically concerns a fall-mat system.
- Excludes generic wireless, WiFi, alarm or equipment failures not directly tied to the safe operation of fall mats.
- Excludes the underlying occurrence of a fall where no failure of a dedicated fall-mat control is identified.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Reports and published responses 14 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Lack of crash mats at the side of the bed
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to use sensory mats in accordance with manufacturers instructions
Insufficient coverage of bedside sensory mats
Linked response
- Bupa Care Services UK
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
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Bupa Care Services UK
Test sensor mats and establish daily care-plan checks plus manager walkaround checks of their operation and placement.
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Bupa Care Services UK
Remind Bupa Care Homes to order equipment through the Clinical Equipment Guide.
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Bupa Care Services UK
Record sensor-mat need, type and required position in every high-fall-risk resident’s additional care plan.
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Bupa Care Services UK
Complete one-to-one sessions with all staff on sensor-mat equipment and correct use.
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Bupa Care Services UK
Provide appropriate sensor mats for chair, seat, floor and crash-mat use.
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Bupa Care Services UK
Review residents’ care plans to allocate correct sensor mats and continue monthly or post-fall reviews.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to address falls risks and faulty sensor mats
This report raised 12 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Broadland View Care Home
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Broadland View Care Home
Install and operate a monitoring system linking room-entry records, sensor mats, audible alarms and response-time reporting.
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Broadland View Care Home
Increase maintenance alarm checks from monthly to weekly and replace faulty sensor mats immediately, with additional resident observations until repairs are completed.
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Broadland View Care Home
Check sensor mats three times daily and record testing, faults, replacements and handover information.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Broadland View Care Home
Sensor-mat risks are addressed through checks three times daily, immediate replacement, increased observations and maintenance arrangements.
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Concerns raised2
Insufficient sensor mat provision for a high-falls-risk resident
Failure to position a high-falls-risk resident’s bed appropriately
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Inadequate provision of crash and sensor mats
This report raised 15 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Hill Care Group
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Hill Care Group
Assess equipment needs before admission, provide required mats and other equipment before admission, and maintain urgent access to additional stock.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to correctly position pressure mats and beds
Failure to implement falls risk measures consistently and effectively
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Hillbury & Gwern Alyn
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Hillbury & Gwern Alyn
Continue using the North Wales falls pathway with GPs and health professionals for residents with a history of falls or new falls.
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Hillbury & Gwern Alyn
Maintain relevant falls management documents within residents’ care plans, including risk assessments, accident records and post-fall reports.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Hillbury & Gwern Alyn
Existing falls assessments, reviews, clinical input and the falls pathway were considered sufficient; no additional mobility or falls-management support was identified.
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Hillbury & Gwern Alyn
Completely eliminating falls risk was considered unrealistic and unachievable for an older person with capacity and freedom to choose movement.
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Concerns raised1
Failure of fitted sensor mats to activate an alert when a resident is out of bed
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Roseberry Care Centres GB Limited
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Roseberry Care Centres GB Limited
Introduce an Observation and Monitoring form, update the Falls Risk Assessment, and require at least hourly sensor-mat checks throughout each shift with daily senior-management monitoring at Alexandra View.
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of required falls prevention equipment
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Avenue House Nursing and Care Home
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Avenue House Nursing and Care Home
Floor-based sensor mats and staff monitoring are considered sufficient; bed sensors offer no additional advantage and communal-area sensors are unsafe.
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Concerns raised1
Removal and unplugging of falls mat and sensor for high-falls-risk residents
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- BIOcareM
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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BIOcareM
Create precise care plans for residents using crash mats or sensor mats, including placement, equipment condition and safe-use guidance.
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BIOcareM
Highlight crash-mat and sensor-mat use in bold on daily handover sheets to alert new and agency staff.
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BIOcareM
Add daily mattress-check documentation requiring staff to confirm equipment placement, settings and working condition.
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BIOcareM
Include the risks of unplugging sensor mats or moving crash mats in in-house moving and handling training for staff.
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of observable beds and crash mats for patients requiring them
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026