Kenneth Cottam

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2017-0360
Date of Report 7 December 2017
Coroner Anna Crawford
Response Deadline est. 8 April 2018
All 1 response received · Deadline: 8 Apr 2018
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The court was not reassured that there are clear and robust policies and procedures in place in relation to falls prevention and falls management, or that staff understood the falls policies and procedures.
View full coroner's concerns
Having heard evidence from the management team at Coxbench Hall Care Home; the court was not reassured that there are clear and robust policies and procedures in place in relation to falls prevention and falls management; or that those policies and procedures are widely and consistently understood by staff: (1) The court was not reassured that there are clear and robust policies and procedures in place in relation to falls risk assessment and management (2) The court was not reassured that staff had a sufficient understanding of the falls policies and procedures in place to enable them implement them consistently and appropriately.
Responses
Coxbench Hall Residentail Home Other
Noted
Coxbench Hall Residential Home asserts that they have clear and robust policies and procedures in place in relation to falls risk assessment and management, including a policy checklist for staff, accident report forms, and a Falls Audit form. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Ms. Crawford. Kenneth Granville Cottam deceased Reg28 Report We are writing in response to the Matters of Concern which are as follows, and t0 reassure the Coroner' s Court that we, aS a matter of course, do all that we can for our Residents in the subject of (1) The Court was not reassured that there are clear and robust policies and procedures in place in relation to falls risk assessment and management_ (2) The Court was not reassured that staff had a sufficient understanding of the falls policies and procedures in place to enable them to implement them consistently and appropriately. You have in your possession some documentation that I delivered to your office the after the Inquest; i.e. on 8rh November 2017, being documents that we had had with us at the Inquest but which were not brought to your attention at the time. That documentation included the items listed on the attached to Inquest re Mr: Cottam 07/11/2017,!. We now enclose the following: Falls Policies?_ All staff sign a *Policy Checklist' form once when they join the Company to prove that have been shown the Policies and where are kept, and then sign again annually; and are encouraged to re-read the Policies and Procedures as often as possible: Continued overleaf List of documents taken to Coroner's Office on 07/11/2017 Falls and Accident Reporting Policy Enjoy your retirement years in elegant 4 surroundings with the support of top quality; family style care G Registered No. 1746888 Ms: falling: day Taking they they they Policy

When there is an accident O incident; the staff who is * first on the scene' completes an accident report form: This gets sent to the Office Manager; who checks that the General Manager has seen it indicated by the General Manager'$ signature on the form (obviously if she hasn t, the form is sent to her). The Office Manager checks whether it is a matter that needs further investigation, Or whether the matter has been dealt with and the Resident is all right so that the form can be filed: The General Manager also does this; but also ensures that the fall,ifit was a fall, is noted on the Falls Audit form and all other procedures have been attended
i.e. the following procedures which are carried out by Carers and Senior Carers: She will check the Daily Care Report entries by the care staff: She will check that a Body has been done. Body Mapping Policy attached'. She will check that there is a Falls and Incident Analysis formS in the Resident'$ Support Plan (perhaps this is a first incident and there wasn t one previously) Staff know that for each fall, the following forms must be completed, so the General Manager will also check that these have been done: Falls Risk Assessment Toolb; Falls Risk Assessment Screening Tool"; Falls Checklist Environmental Factors Following Risk Assessment for when there is a high risk of falls' form is commenced on the occasion of a second fall: There are two versions of this risk assessment as some Residents prefer that their falls mat is plugged in only at night for example, so the alternative risk assessment is then used. We that the above answers the Regulation 28. We should be very grateful if you would please let us know if it does not.
Sent To
  • Coxbench Hall Residential Home
Response Status
Linked responses 1 of 1
56-Day Deadline 8 Apr 2018
All responses received
About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 19 April 2016 an inquest was opened into the death of Kenneth Cottam: The inquest concluded on November 2017. The medical cause of death was recorded as: 1aAcute Subdural Haematoma with Mass Effect The inquest concluded with a narrative conclusion:
Circumstances of the Death
Mr Cottam was an 89 year old gentleman and a resident at Coxbench Hall Residential Home_ His mobility was limited and he used a zimmer frame and wheelchair at times, He had not had a fall since 2012 but was nervous about falling: From the morning of 4 April 2016 onwards staff recorded that Mr Cottam appeared confused:. On 6 April 2016 he was observed to have a bruise on his right hip and stomach and he reported that on the night of 3/4 April 2016 he had fallen on to his bed. On 8 April 2016 Mr Cottam sustained an unwitnessed fall in his bedroom: He reported that he had lost his balance whilst standing up from his chair He was checked over by a member of staff who did not observe any injuries and did not have any concerns. On 9 April 2016 a family member became concerned that Mr Cottam's speech was slurred and staff called an ambulance. Mr Cottam was taken to the Royal Derby Hospital where he was diagnosed with a subdural bleed with mass effect: He was managed conservatively However; his condition deteriorated and he died at the hospital on 13 April 2016_ Having heard evidence, the court was unable to establish whether Mr Cottam had sustained his head injury as a result of the reported fall on 3/4 April 2016 or the subsequent fall on 8 April 2016 The court heard evidence that a falls risk assessment was not carried out in relation to Mr Cottam, either on his arrival at Coxbench Hall Care Home on March 2016, or after he reported having fallen on 3/4 April 2016. The court also heard that no consideration was given to a potential Iink between the confusion that Mr Cottam had been experiencing since 4 April 2016 and the fall that he reported sustaining on the night of 3/4 April 2016, As a result; the GP who saw Mr Cottam on 8 April 2016 in relation to his ongoing confusion; was not informed about the reported fall or bruising:
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe your organisation the power to take such action:
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.