PFD report

Alfred Leonard Hodges · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 24 Jan 2014•North Central & North East Wales

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
5

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
6

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised5

  1. Lack of interim protection for Telecare package users pending interlink installation
    Part of recurring concern: Unreliable fire-safety protection for telecare clientsPart of recurring concern: Unreliable telecare service safety controls
  2. Failure to ensure accurate understanding of smoke alarm interlink status
  3. Failure to provide a Fire Home Safety Check
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.3

  1. Action

    Install linked smoke detectors for Telecare clients identified as lacking them, using the accelerated installation programme.

    Stated by Conwy County Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 January 2014.
  2. Action

    Review current Council and Fire Service practice for providing linked smoke detectors with Telecare.

    Stated by Conwy County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 January 2014.
  3. Action

    Establish a six-month full-time Council post to accelerate installation of linked smoke detectors for Telecare clients.

    Stated by Conwy County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 January 2014.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of interim protection for Telecare package users pending interlink installation

Wider context from the report

“(2) It is understood that there is a 2 year roll out programme to provide interlink as standard for those on a Conwy Council Telecare package. I am concerned as to what interim provisions are in place to protect those on the Telecare package until interlink is installed ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unreliable fire-safety protection for telecare clients; Unreliable telecare service safety controls.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to ensure accurate understanding of smoke alarm interlink status

Wider context from the report

“(3)The next of kin in this Inquest mistakenly believed that the smoke alarm was connected to interlink. They made it clear that they would have paid for installation rather than wait for any roll out to be completed ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to provide a Fire Home Safety Check

Wider context from the report

“(4) The deceased had not been visited by North Wales Fire Service for a free Fire Home Safety Check. It appears neither he nor his family were aware of the service and that Conwy Council had not brought this to the attention of the deceased ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to inform Telecare users about the free Fire Home Safety Check service

Wider context from the report

“(4) The deceased had not been visited by North Wales Fire Service for a free Fire Home Safety Check. It appears neither he nor his family were aware of the service and that Conwy Council had not brought this to the attention of the deceased ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unreliable fire-safety protection for telecare clients.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of standard interlink connection for smoke alarms on the Conwy County Telecare package

Wider context from the report

“(1) Individuals on the Telecare package in Conwy County do not have a standard a provision that their smoke alarm is connected via interlink although this is seen as necessary in all other North Wales Counties due to the vulnerability of those on the scheme. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unreliable smoke-alarm interlinking and status information for vulnerable people; Unreliable telecare service safety controls.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Install linked smoke detectors for Telecare clients identified as lacking them, using the accelerated installation programme.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Council and NWFRS reviewed the current practice in October 2013. The NWFRS concluded that it would be beneficial for people in Conwy if a linked smoke detector was installed as part of the basic Telecare package on initial installation, or during regular support visits to those already with a Telecare package. The NWFRS donated 900 linked smoke detectors to the Council for the Conwy Telecare Service to install for clients identified as not having a linked detector.”

Source location

2014-0033-Response-by-Conway
Page 3 · response
Published 24 January 2014

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Review current Council and Fire Service practice for providing linked smoke detectors with Telecare.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Council and NWFRS reviewed the current practice in October 2013. The NWFRS concluded that it would be beneficial for people in Conwy if a linked smoke detector was installed as part of the basic Telecare package on initial installation, or during regular support visits to those already with a Telecare package. The NWFRS donated 900 linked smoke detectors to the Council for the Conwy Telecare Service to install for clients identified as not having a linked detector.”

Source location

2014-0033-Response-by-Conway
Page 3 · response
Published 24 January 2014

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Establish a six-month full-time Council post to accelerate installation of linked smoke detectors for Telecare clients.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Officers from NWFRS and Conwy County Borough Council met again on 11th December 2013 and reached an agreement for the funding of a full time post in the Council for 6 months in order to install the linked smoke alarms in a considerably shorter timescale. The NWFRS also agreed to provide 500 smoke alarms during 2014/15 and have provided refresher training for Conwy Telecare Services installers on the correct positioning of smoke detectors in domestic dwellings and, will be providing fire safety awareness training for social services staff. Between December and February 105 detectors have been installed and the new full time officer has now started work.”

Source location

2014-0033-Response-by-Conway
Page 4 · response
Published 24 January 2014

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.3

  1. 1

    Disseminate staff guidance, including a photograph of the linked detector, to help Social Services staff identify and test smoke alarms during home visits.

    Stated by Conwy County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 January 2014.
  2. 2

    Continue working in partnership with the Fire and Rescue Service, Health Board and other agencies to support residents’ safety at home.

    Stated by Conwy County Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 24 January 2014.
  3. 3

    Request direct forwarding of future inquest attendance invitations and requests to the Chief Executive’s office for consideration and action.

    Stated by Conwy County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 January 2014.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    Individuals may refuse linked smoke detectors or fire-safety referrals unless lacking capacity and a best-interests decision is made.

    Stated by Conwy County Borough CouncilUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Disseminate staff guidance, including a photograph of the linked detector, to help Social Services staff identify and test smoke alarms during home visits.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In order to raise staff awareness and to request that staff visiting clients at home take note of and test smoke alarms, a briefing note has been prepared for all Social Services staff and has been posted to them via the Council’s intranet; the briefing paper includes a photograph of the "Tunstall" linked smoke detector used in the County to help staff identify the equipment in situ.”

Source location

2014-0033-Response-by-Conway
Page 4 · response
Published 24 January 2014

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue working in partnership with the Fire and Rescue Service, Health Board and other agencies to support residents’ safety at home.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Council is working hard to meet the social care needs of clients who wish to remain in their homes and, mindful of our respective statutory responsibilities, we are committed to work in partnership with the NWFRS, the Health Board and other agencies in the best interests of all our residents.”

Source location

2014-0033-Response-by-Conway
Page 4 · response
Published 24 January 2014

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Request direct forwarding of future inquest attendance invitations and requests to the Chief Executive’s office for consideration and action.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In my letter to you dated 12th December 2013, I requested that all future invitations and requests to attend inquests were forwarded directly to my office and I envisage that this will ensure that enquiries are given due consideration and appropriate action taken to prevent a recurrence of this position.”

Source location

2014-0033-Response-by-Conway
Page 1 · response
Published 24 January 2014

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Individuals may refuse linked smoke detectors or fire-safety referrals unless lacking capacity and a best-interests decision is made.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The conclusion, I think, is that there is certainly some inconsistency across North Wales in respect of the basic Telecare package and serious concerns about sustainability of current provision in some Authorities as well as concerns about the number of refusals from individuals who are of course entitled to choose (unless lacking capacity, a decision is made in their best”

Source location

2014-0033-Response-by-Conway
Page 2 · response
Published 24 January 2014

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026