Hospital impaling death blamed on lack of information

Death at Boston Pilgrim Hospital would have been less likely if equipment manufacturer had issued a safety notice, jury told


A safety manager at a U.K.'s Lincolnshire hospital trust, which is on trial following a patient death, told a jury that the fatality would have been less likely if the manufacturer had issued a safety notice following a previous incident, according to an article on the Boston Standard website.
 
An incident had previously taken place at a hospital in Leicester involving an identical lifting hoist. 
 
The Leicester incident occurred in 2007, five years before an incident at Boston Pilgrim Hospital, in which a patient died from internal injuries caused when he was impaled on part of a lifting hoist which was being used to assist him. 
 
The patient fell onto a protruding metal post while being aided by the hoist. The prosecution allege that hospital staff were not adequately trained or supervised in the use of the hoist and had removed a knee support pad which should have remained in place. 
 
 
 
 


May 15, 2017


Topic Area: Safety


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