Care home boss ban over misconduct charges

A care home manager who exposed patients to a "serious risk of harm" has had a striking off order imposed against her, after multiple misconduct charges were proven.

Registered nurse Margaret Cooper was the deputy manager at Lound Hall Care Home near Lowestoft, Suffolk, when safeguarding concerns were raised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2017.

Following an investigation, she was found to have been responsible for "widespread failings" relating to the care of residents over a sustained period of time.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) ruled her actions compromised patient safety.

"The panel determined that Mrs Cooper's misconduct raised fundamental questions about her professionalism," the report said.

"Mrs Cooper's actions were serious and to allow her to continue practising would put the public at serious risk of harm and would undermine public confidence."

Lound Hall Care Home is rated as good following its last inspection in 2022, but it had been deemed "inadequate" in reports published in 2017 and 2018.

The CQC found a "significant deterioration" in standards during 2017 - the year which the misconduct charges related to.

The NMC fitness to practise panel was told Cooper repeatedly failed to ensure residents' repositioning records were completed and care plans were not put in place when residents suffered wounds or bruising.

Residents who suddenly lost weight were also not always referred to a doctor for review, the NMC panel also heard.

One person was found to have lost 15.4kg (34lb) in the space of eight months, and no plan was put in place to try and help them attain a healthy weight.

Elsewhere in the report, it was found that personal emergency evacuation, communication, behaviour, pain and hygiene plans were not in place.

Nor were plans to make sure certain residents were fed safely without the fear of choking or to prevent pressure sores from developing on their skin.

One resident developed a blister which burst, but the report said Cooper, who has since retired, failed to ensure a wound assessment was carried out.

The CQC referred Cooper to the NMC in November 2017 following safeguarding concerns regarding severe pressure sores that one resident was suffering from. The resident died in October 2018.

Cooper was described as being "dishonest" after providing the CQC with "misleading and inaccurate" information about the number of residents with sores.

The panel issued an interim suspension order, which will turn into a striking-off order in 28 days if no appeal is made.

Cooper did not attend the hearing. In her last email read to the panel, she said "staffing levels over my last few months working at Lound Hall were out of my control, I was not involved in the recruiting process and could only work with what I had".

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