11 People Arrested Over Death In Care Home

[mikey4444]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/13/care-home-death-11-arrested-ivy-atkin

The mind boggles ! 11 people ! Why is this sort of thing still happening, after so many recent scandals in private care homes ? Why isn't the Care Quality Commission inspecting these places on a more regular basis ? Its a disgrace.

[Sqad]

I agree mikey.......same old story.........CQC not up to the job, like Social Services not up to the job......it goes on and on until the next scandal and comment "lessons will be learnt".

They never are.

[woofgang]

Its simple. while inspections are by appointment such things will happen.

[chrisgel]

I assume that like all other public bodies they have suffered that many cuts that they are now in a position of being unable to fulfil their tasks properly.
"In June 2013, following a series of critical reports and facing 30 civil claims for negligence, it was announced that the organisation would be subjected to a public inquiry.[2] David Prior, chair of the commission, admitted that the organisation was "not fit for purpose."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Care_Quality_Commission

[Octavius]

Since Jan 2012 the CQC have carried out 8 separate inspections at this care home and produced reports for each one. Some by appointment, and some as a response to reported concerns.

[FredPuli43]

Another aspect of this is that complaints by patients or their families get ignored. This seems familiar: we saw it, in another context, with Rochdale sex offenders. Complaints seem to get put aside and the result may be that people don't bother to complain any more. Me, I'd sue the bastards on the first sign, but then I'm used to doing that. Others are not so familiar with law or practice, and fearful, and they will continue to suffer.

[sp1814]

mikey4444 - I don't know how inspections are carried out...perhaps like the food standards agency, inspections should not be announced ahead of time?

[Canary42]

The CQC is hopelessly understaffed to cover the thousands of Care Homes in this country.

[pixie373]

They do an announced and an unannounced inspection every year. More often if concerns are raised. There is nothing i can see in the link that gives the cause of death. Does anyone know what it was? Unfortunately, it is known that vulnerable, elderly people are more likely to die shortly after moving.

[mikey4444]

pixie...I have looked and I can't find anything else about this item. It was the huge number of 11 that first caught my eye in the Guardian this morning. We shall await developments.

[pixie373]

Yes. I'll be interested to see. The large number doesn't surprise me in itself, in that there would be several different staff with knowledge of the situation. Nobody has been charged yet.

[Octavius]

I think the nr 11 will include the whole management and staff of the care home, top down. Generally speaking, given the poor findings of the CQC and the resultant death, someone must have reported suspicions and a case of negligence / manslaughter is likely to be investigated which may find ultimately that nothing specific untoward has occurred in this instance.