Harold Wonfor
20 Nov 2017 · Coroner Kate Thomas · Kent (Central & South East)
The coroner's concerns
1. falls on ward
“Between January 2017 and April 2017 five deaths occurred on Cambridge Wards at William Harvey Hospital. Common to each was the fact that the death was caused as a result of a fall on the ward in circumstances where falls risk assessments were either inadequate, incomplete, not reviewed or not enforced.”
2. falls risk assessment policies
“That the policies and procedures for falls risk assessment is inadequate especially for the vulnerable”
3. falls prevention monitoring and enforcement
“There is inadequate monitoring and enforcement of the falls prevention policies and procedures in place”
Responses
2017-0408-Response-East-Kent-NHS-Trust.pdf ↗· East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Stated action
“We have set ourselves challenging stretch targets to achieve as our patient falls prevention programme is of a high priority.”