Inquiries into care home abuse and care home neglect up by almost 50%
Posted on 17th September 2021
Our care home abuse solicitors discuss the worrying increases in abuse investigations. Contact us today to start your care home abuse compensation claim.
In the last year, the number of care home residents and vulnerable people who have had investigations carried out regarding their abuse and neglect has risen by around half. It has been revealed in the latest figures that around 68,000 care home residents were subject to formal safeguarding investigations within a 12 month period, a sharp increase from the previous year.
While the government has recently made bold claims of a £12 billion tax rise for social care, it is thought the the large majority of this money will go to the NHS, leaving care homes and nursing homes to fend for themselves. Another worrying new report has recently suggested that care home abuse is taking place in 99% of care homes in England.
Inspectors recently witnessed abuse in a England care home during an investigation:
In recent weeks, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was carrying out a serious investigation in a Worthing care home after allegations of physical abuse, for which a care worker member of staff has now been arrested and charged.
During this subsequent investigation, the CQC witnessed examples of verbal abuse from members of staff, despite the inspectors being visibly present in the care home facility. Since this, the Worthing care home has been placed into special measures. The report they created stated that the care home was ‘inadequate’, which is the lowest rating available.
What is the difference between care home abuse and care home negligence?
When our personal injury solicitors speak to our clients about care home abuse and care home negligence, we often find that people are not entirely sure on the difference between the two, and that the definitions can become blurred.
The defining aspect of care home abuse is the intentional harm of a care home resident by a member of staff or another resident. This abuse can come in a number of forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, inappropriate physical restraint, and psychological abuse. No type of care home abuse is okay, and it can often result in serious injuries to the already vulnerable victims. Any kind of physical abuse can lead to a criminal assault claim, no matter the circumstances.
Care home neglect can be equally as harmful to care home residents, causing a wide variety of unnecessary injury or illness to them. However, the key difference is that the acts of care home neglect are not intentional on the part of the staff member, in that they are not directly intentionally causing harm to the resident. Instead, they are breaking the standard of care that they owe to the patient, and subsequently causing them harm.
What to do if you or a loved one is suffering from care home abuse?
The figures above clearly show that care home abuse is a serious problem across the country, and that a worrying number of care home residents are suffering because of it every day.
If you or your loved one is suffering from care home abuse or care home neglect of any kind, you should not have to continue to suffer in this way. You are not alone, and you should not feel any guilt or blame for the possible abuse that you or your relative is experiencing.
If you suspect that care home abuse or care home neglect may be taking place, and are wondering what you can best do to help them, then see our injury solicitors helpful guide on our main care home abuse claims page. See this here.
If you or your loved one have suffered from injuries of any kind in a care home, then you could be eligible to claim financial compensation through a care home abuse claim or a care home negligence claim.
Make a NO WIN NO FEE care home claim with MG Legal:
If you are wanting to make a care home abuse claim or a care home negligence claim for the injuries of yourself or a loved one suffered in a care home, then look no further than MG Legal. Our friendly team of injury solicitors accept all of our claims on a NO WIN NO FEE basis, and offer a free, no-obligation chat to all potential clients about how we can help you to claim financial compensation.
Simply contact us online today, here, or get in touch by email at enquiries@mglegal.co.uk .
Tagged as: Accident Injury Solicitors, Injury Compensation Claims, Personal Injury, Personal Injury Solicitors
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