An adult social care provider has been ordered to pay £4,621 after admitting it did not tell the appropriate person that a resident’s health was worsening.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) prosecuted the provider for not informing the resident’s family about a developing pressure sore, which organisations are legally required to share under the duty to act openly and transparently.
The provider pleaded guilty to failing in its duty of candour under Regulation 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. It was fined £1,125, with a £112 victim surcharge and £3,384.11 costs.
The resident, who was receiving end‑of‑life care, developed a pressure sore that worsened into a category 4 ulcer, showing bone and signs of infection. The person later moved to hospice care and died.
A CQC spokesperson said the case shows the importance of being open and honest when something goes wrong and confirmed that action will be taken when providers fail to meet this responsibility.
How HCPA can help you avoid similar failings
This case highlights three critical areas where care providers must get it right: open communication with families, effective monitoring of health changes, and robust governance to ensure compliance. HCPA’s Business Development team offers practical support in each of these areas:
• Duty of Candour & Compliance: Our Inspection & Monitoring Support service helps you embed transparent processes and ensure your team understands their legal obligations when things go wrong.
• Managing Deterioration: Through Business Coaching and bespoke support, we can help you strengthen your approach to monitoring individuals’ health and responding promptly to changes.
• Learning from Incidents: Our Impartial Feedback Service helps you gather honest insights from the people you support and their families, ensuring lessons are learned and improvements made.
Contact our Care Provider Hub: 01707 708108 or assistance@hcpa.co.uk to discuss how we can support you. For our full range of services, including Business Continuity Planning and Culture Surveys, visit: www.hcpa.info/business-development