Designed & created by
Gavin Wright
Terms & Conditions 30 Smilie Road, Peterlee, Co.Durham, England. SR8 4AN e-mail
A carer was blamed for the death of a nursing home resident when she fell from a hoist. According to the state report, the carer failed to secure 82 year old Marie Peterson as she was hoisted in a mechanical lift. The report blamed the carer as she had received training in the use of mechanical lifting equipment. Ms. Peterson fell hitting her head and hip and died nine days later.
As I have brought to many peoples attention over the years, hoisting doesn’t come without its dangers.
It is always sad to hear of these stories and I am not sure that pinning the blame on carers is the answer. No carer goes to work to see how bad they can be at their job today. Training is one thing, but there is more to it than that. For instance, was this the first time that the carer had used the equipment in this way, or is their a culture in place that encourages the belief that training is for the classroom but “in the real world” things are different. If so, the theory and practice gap needs to be closed.
Back in 1997, The guide to the handling of patients 4th edition on page 68 said that we need to follow up training in the workplace. This standard has never changed. Was this the case for the carer. If not, can they really be blamed if they have difficulty in transposing theory into practice? We are a team. Therefore when incidents like this happen, unless it is obviously a blatant disregard for policy & procedure, we should deal with it as a team. Training is one thing, but what is the custom and practice within the workplace? Adopting a “no-blame” culture (a phrase I first heard in Sheffield Northern General Hospital by Nicky Tongue) rather than encouraging a couldn’t-care-less attitude, has the opposite effect of openness and a means to discuss issues and ask questions where needed. Even in a “no-blame” culture, the carer would obviously feel he guilt that comes with being “the reason why” someone fell from a hoist.
I am not suggesting that there be some kind of cover-up. It may be that the individual concerned has to face the full force of the legal system. What I am saying though, is that this person should receive support from colleagues and their employer and not castigation. A good employer, will do a fair investigation and hold their hand up wherever possible to take on their measure of accountability.