Shropshire hospital trust admits failing to ensure the safety of patients who suffered falls

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust has admitted failing to ensure the safety of five patients who had falls while at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital or Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2011 and 2012.

The court heard the five patients later died, with the falls being a contributory factor in four of the cases.

Mr Bernard Thorogood, prosecuting, told Stafford Crown Court yesterday in one case 74-year-old Mohan Singh suffered a fall at Princess Royal Hospital.

He died after suffering a head injury. But Mr Thorogood said the fall could have been prevented if one-on-one care had been provided, as requested by a staff nurse.

The court heard that the nurse was told there was nobody available to give that care.

Mr Thorogood said: “In relation to Mr Singh the staff on the ward did what they could but they could not provide what he needed, one-to-one supervision.

“If he had been given the enhanced care he clearly needed this fall would not have taken place.” He said a post-mortem report showed the fall had contributed to his death.

In another case Mr Thorogood said 81-year-old Eileen Thomson had been admitted to PRH in 2012 and was at high risk of suffering a fall.

He said she fell on two occasions in the hospital but forms were not updated to indicate this had happened.

The court was told that through a lack of staff “enhanced care” initially given to Ms Thomson came to an end.

She died after suffering a fractured skull after a fall.

Edna Evans, 92, was also admitted to PRH in 2012, where she suffered a fall fracturing her shoulder. Mr Thorogood said she was placed in a bed with bed rails, which should not have been used as she was in a confused state. Sheclimbed out of her bed and fell.

Ms Evans was discharged but died from a severe chest infection but Mr Thorogood told the court a postmortem report showed the fall was a contributory factor.Ada Clarke, 91, was also admitted to PRH in 2012.

Mr Thorogood said an assessment did not cover several risk factors in her case.He said after changing wards, not all information about her was passed to staff and she was put in a normal bed despite having a possible infection which can cause confusion.

Mr Thorogood said: “She was put in a normal bed which is not the right place for a patient at high risk and with confusion.”

She was later found on the floor by her bed.Gerald Morris, 72, was admitted to RSH following a fall at his home. Mr Thorogood said during a handover between shifts hospital staff failed to state Mr Morris suffered from postural hypotension.

The condition involves someone feeling dizzy or unsteady when they suddenly stand up, making them more likely to fall.

He later suffered a fall and an x-ray showed he had a fractured femur, although it was not known if it was caused by the earlier fall.He died after contracting a chest infection.but Mr Thorogood said it could not be proven that the hospital fall directly contributed to his death.

The trust faces having to pay up to £116,450 in costs on top of any fine. It will be sentenced later this year.