Investigation and inquest
On the 11 June 2018 I commenced an investigation into the death of Beryl Ann Walsh. I concluded this inquest on 8 November 2018 and found that there were multiple missed opportunities by Beechwood Lodge Care Home to refer the deceased to the falls team, undertake appropriate risk assessments and to provide her with falls prevention equipment.
Circumstances of the death
The deceased sustained catastrophic head injuries caused by an unwitnessed fall from her bed at Beechwood Lodge Care Home on 3 June 2018. This final fall led directly to the deceased’s death.
Coroner’s concerns
1. That there were multiple missed opportunities to identify the deceased as a person of high risk of falls and to escalate her care by way of a referral to the falls team. Furthermore, there were multiple missed opportunities to provide the deceased with falls prevention equipment and to undertake falls risk assessments and care plans. I remain concerned that appropriate action to minimise the risk of deaths occurring in similar circumstances has not been taken by Beechwood Lodge Care Home.
During the last 12 months of her life she had fallen on multiple occasions. However, she had not been referred to the falls prevention team and had not been provided with any falls prevention equipment. No care plans and falls risk assessments had been undertaken