Care home rated as ‘requiring improvement’ over its safety launches investigation after elderly resident eats a BLEACH TABLET and dies
Home specialising in dementia clients found to be 'not consistently safe' in latest inspection
A CARE home that has been strongly criticised for its safety has launched an investigation after an elderly resident died from eating a bleach tablet.
Balmoral Court in Newcastle-upon-Tyne was rated as “requiring improvement” in its latest inspection.
It was found to have not taken “reasonable steps to reduce risks”.
But fears over the safety it provides its residents — many of whom suffer from dementia — have grown further after a client ate a highly toxic bleach tablet.
The unnamed man was rushed to hospital on Thursday but later died.
All reasonable steps had not been taken to reduce risks and make sure that people’s care was provided in a safe and hygienic environment
Quality Care Commission report in March
It is believed he was left unsupervised with access to the deadly cleaning product, reports.
The Care Home operated by Crown Care Group confirmed the man’s death and said that “appropriate authorities” had been informed.
A spokesman for the 62-room home said: “We are very sad to confirm one of our residents at Balmoral Court has died in hospital after an incident at the home.
“A full investigation is under way and we are liaising closely with the family and the appropriate authorities.”
He added: “Until that investigation is complete it would be inappropriate to comment further other than to say we are deeply shocked and saddened by this incident.
“We send our sincere condolences to the family.”
In March the Care Quality Commission deemed that the home “required improvement”, especially over the safety it offered residents.
Four of the five quality measures were judged as requiring improvement; safety, effectiveness, care, and management leadership.
In its blistering report, inspectors found that parts of the home “were not well maintained”.
“All reasonable steps had not been taken to reduce risks and make sure that people’s care was provided in a safe and hygienic environment”, the assessment said.
Breaches in health and safety were found “relating to safe care and treatment, the premises, consent, nutrition, dignity and respect, and the governance of the service”.
It continued: “The service was not consistently safe. The environment was not fully safe, clean and free from hazards and odours.”
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