A care home failed to protect an elderly man who had ten falls before he died of a traumatic head injury.

Offington Park Care Home in Worthing called emergency care for John Bowles just once before he was found unresponsive in his bed.

Claremont Care Services, which runs the home, was prosecuted over John's death and appeared in Brighton Magistrates Court.

The court heard that John, 75, should have been protected from avoidable harm by the care home.

A spokesman for the Care Quality Commission said carers only sought emergency treatment for Mr Bowles once following a fall. As he was taking anti-clotting medication, the decision by carers breached National Institute for Health and Care.

John began his stay at Offington Park in December 2019 after being discharged from hospital, with staff told he was at risk of falls.

Up to February 8, 2020, he suffered nine falls, four of which caused him a head injury but only one resulted in him being taken to hospital.

According to guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) patients who have been prescribed anti-coagulants, which reduce blood clotting, are more at risk of head injuries and should be urgently referred to hospital.

MOST READ:

​To have access to all of our best stories subscribe to The Argus here

The CQC spokesman added: “On the morning of February 9, 2020, he suffered another unwitnessed fall resulting in a head injury.

“Staff took physical observations but didn’t have any previous recordings to compare against. They offered to contact emergency services, but Mr Bowles declined, and staff complied with his wishes however, this went against Nice guidelines.

“Later that evening, staff heard a loud bang from Mr Bowles’ room. He said he banged the back of his head on the wall. Staff didn’t see an injury and didn’t seek medical treatment.

“A few hours later that night, staff found him walking in the corridor. He requested a specialist and staff offered to call emergency services but again he declined. Staff again didn’t follow Nice guidance.

“The next morning, on February 10 2020, staff found Mr Bowles unresponsive in bed and called 999. He was pronounced dead at hospital and was later determined to have died from a traumatic head injury.”

Claremont Care Services was fined nearly £25,000 for failing to protect him.

Claremont was approached for comment.