Inquiry clears social services over deaths

An inquiry into the deaths of three older people in Bournemouth has
concluded that they were not prematurely discharged from
hospital.

The review by Bournemouth social services also concluded that there
was no poor care practice in its interim care facility, where the
three older people were moved after discharge. They were later
readmitted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, where they died
(news, page 6, 27 May).

Concerns about inappropriate early discharge had arisen because of
the introduction of fines levied on social services by the NHSfor
delayed discharges.

The council’s head of community care Judith Geddes said: “We had
set up a new interim arrangement and were aware of the risks
associated with moving elderly people too many times. I’m very
aware we need to make sure that by moving older people more than
once we don’t increase the risk of death.”

Results of a Commission for Social Care Inspection study into the
effects of delayed discharge fines on seven social services
departments are due to be published later this month.