Haresbrook Park Care Home: Staff did not prioritise safety of residents says Coroner

On 23 April 2020, Margaret Medlicott was pushed three times by another resident at Haresbrook Park Care Home. Margaret fell and sustained an unsurvivable head injury. 

Today Senior Coroner, David Reid in Stourport, concluded that neither she nor the resident who pushed her, should have ever been admitted to Haresbrook Park Care Home. 

The resident who pushed her had been increasingly and unpredictably violent towards his wife, including stomping on her head. This was reported to local social services and information passed to the home prior to his admission. Haresbrook Park Care Home had been under a period of suspension for 10 months, then subject to restrictions agreed with the local authority as a result of concerns including over safety. They had been rated inadequate by the CQC until early 2020 and remained rated as “requires improvement”.

A decision to admit the resident who pushed Mrs Medlicott had been taken by the owner, who was not qualified to take that decision.  

Haresbrook Park had information about both Mrs Medlicott and the resident who pushed her which ought to have been reflected in the risk assessments completed for them. Risk assessments which were completed were inadequate. The Coroner made reports for the Prevention of Future Deaths in respect of processes at Haresbrook Park.    

Following the inquest, Karen Rosser, Mrs Medlicott’s daughter said:

"Our family has been left devastated that Margaret died as she did. Before she was admitted to Haresbrook Park I did all I could to protect her and make sure she was placed in a home suitable for her needs.”

“I was repeatedly ignored when I raised concerns that the extent of my mother’s complex needs and challenging behaviour was not appreciated or being taken into account by those who should have looked after her. It was against this backdrop that she was admitted to Haresbrook Park when she should not have been, and where she was not kept safe.”

Mrs Medlicott’s family are represented by Leigh Day Solicitors and by Angela Patrick, Doughty Street Chambers.  Read more here.