Sheila Gaskin

“evidence revealed that there was an identified risk in the deceased's Care Plan of her smoking in bed. The Fire Service had been involved in risk assessing the situation and have provided flame retardant bedding and linen. | Despite this obvious risk having been identified and implemented into the Care | | Plan there was nothing prohibiting carers assisting the deceased to smoke in j bed which, the evidence revealed, was a regular occurrence.”

“Management of the care provided accepted that there was no effective oversight by them on a day-to-day basis and they were unaware that carers were assisting the deceased in this way. They agreed that what was required was a blanket prohibition on carers assisting the service user in smoking which would have given greater degree of clarity.”