Bupa Care Homes has been fined over £350,000 after failures at a Bristol care home led to the death of a 90-year-old woman with dementia. Ivy Davies died in hospital after falling down a staircase at Druid Stoke Residential Care Home in Stoke Bishop in June 2014.
An investigation by Bristol City Council found that Mrs Davies, who had a diagnosis of dementia, had been assessed as needing accompaniment whenever she moved with her Zimmer frame following a previous fall. However, on the day of the incident, a care worker left her alone in the dining room while taking trays to residents upstairs. Mrs Davies then walked through a fire exit door onto a staircase and fell backwards, hitting her head.
The council's investigation revealed that assessments had been recorded in Mrs Davies' care plan but were not implemented. There was no system to ensure she was accompanied, and the fire exit staircase had no access controls. The staircase design was unsuitable for elderly residents, with hard-to-grasp handrails and steps lacking bright edge markings.
The incident was not reported to the council until a month later, after a Care Quality Commission inspector advised the manager. Bupa Care Homes admitted breaching health and safety laws and failing to report the injury immediately. The company was fined £333,333 and ordered to pay costs of £17,576.
Helen Holland, cabinet member for adult social care, expressed condolences to Mrs Davies' family and emphasised the need for care providers to meet safety standards. The council has since worked with the care home to address the risks.
