Bridget GORMLEY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 3 August 2022 I commenced an investigation and opened an inquest into the death of Bridget GORMLEY. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 8 February 2023.

The conclusion of the inquest was that Mrs. Gormley died as the result of an accident.

In answer to the questions “when, where and how did Mrs. Gormley come by her death?”, I recorded as follows:
“On 20.7.22 Bridget Gormley, who had had an increasing number of falls since the end of March 2022, fell again at the care home in Worcester where she lived. She was taken by ambulance to the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, where she was found to have sustained significant traumatic intracranial bleeding. She was transferred to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where, despite treatment, she continued to decline and died on 31.7.22.”

The care home in question was Latimer Court Care Home, Darwin Avenue, Worcester WR5 1SP, which is owned and run by Barchester Healthcare. Latimer Court’s registered home manager is Donna Tustin.

(1) During the course of her evidence, the inquest heard that Mrs. Gormley had suffered four falls at Latimer Court between 31 March 2022 and 4 April 2022, and a further four falls between 12 July 2022 and 17 July 2022. Latimer Court’s registered home manager, ████████, conceded in her evidence that neither Mrs. Gormley’s Falls Risk Assessment document, nor her Falls Care plan document were updated following any of these falls, and that they should have been so updated. This meant that:

(a) Staff at Latimer Court who were looking after Mrs. Gormley may not have been aware that she presented an increased risk of suffering a fall; and
(b) Measures to mitigate that increased risk were not considered. Such measures could have included:

(i) Asking a GP to refer Mrs. Gormley to the falls clinic;
(ii) Placing a sensor mat by her bed or chair, to alert staff to when she was mobilising;
(iii) Referring her to Occupational Therapy for mobility aids such as a walking stick or frame;
(iv) Briefing staff at Latimer Court to intervene whenever Mrs. Gormley was seen mobilising by herself, and to offer her assistance.

(2) ████████ was unable to explain why these important documents had not been updated as they should have been by staff at Latimer Court. There is therefore concern that staff at Latimer Court did not, and may still not understand their duties and responsibilities to update residents’ documentation in such circumstances.