Health and safety advice issued to care industry
Commercial insurance
7th September 2009
Care homes have been advised that they must adhere strictly to laws relating to the movement and handling of patients and ensure that staff are adequately trained.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued new guidance on the issue after a firm was prosecuted for breaching Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
According to HSE inspector Paul Robinson: "This prosecution should serve as a reminder to all carers, management and care home operators of what can happen when the correct training and procedures aren't adhered to."
Bupa Care Homes (CFH Care) was fined by magistrates in Wakefield after an 80-year-old quadriplegic woman was injured in a fall from her bed and later died, having been attended to by an inexperienced care assistant operating alone.
Care homes with a UK insurance policy may also be interested to note that the National Audit Office Health Focus Spring 2009 suggested that NHS and social care services need to do more to meet the basic end-of-life needs of older people and improve coordination.
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