Deaths in care homes have increased

According to records, there were 38,000 deaths in care homes 10 years ago. This number ballooned to 103,000 deaths last year.

10:58 19 June 2013

The death toll in care and nursing homes in England is increasing. Based on the data gathered, there were only 38,000 deaths in care homes 10 years ago. This number increased more than 100per cent last year where the total number of deaths reached 103,000.

Professor Brian Jarman at Imperial College London, the man behind the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal expose, has discovered the rise from official figures submitted to the regulator.

He said, as reported by the Daily Mail: “As we are finally getting the scrutiny we need in hospitals, deaths are being exported to care homes where they not well regulated. It really beggars belief.”

His report also shows that up to 27per cent of care homes in England did not send records about their death rates to the regulator even though they were legally required to do so.

 

David Behan, the new chief executive of the CQC, said that something needs to be done to address the alarming issue: He said, as quoted in the same report by the Daily Mail: “We are going to be absolutely clear about what is acceptable and what isn’t acceptable. There’s too much poor care in this country and we need to ensure that that is improving, or providers cease to exist.

 

“Death rates are critical and we need to ensure that our databases are up to date and where they’re not, we need to challenge to do that.”