Bosses at a County Durham care home have been told to take action after one resident’s fall contributed to her death.

The warning from a coroner to chiefs at Stanley Park Care Centre, in Stanley, comes after a 90-year-old dementia patient died there last September.

Margaret Austin sustained a pelvic fracture after an unwitnessed fall from her bed on July 1, 2023. The coroner said this “contributed to her overall decline and ultimately to her death”.

Mrs Austin was reportedly known to be at high risk of falls but Durham Assistant Coroner Janine Richards said documentation on how to manage her risk “was not comprehensive and contained significant discrepancies”.

An inquest heard the majority of staff at the home (three quarters) were awaiting falls risk training and there was no evidence Margaret’s risk plan was reviewed after previous tumbles.

Ms Richards said: “In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.”

The concerns were raised in a prevention of future deaths report which the home is duty bound to respond to.

Care UK, which manages the home, said it has reviewed and updated its processes and ensured training is up to date.

The firm’s regional director Samantha Rogan said: “We would once again like to offer our sincere apologies to Mrs Austin’s family.

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“Our colleagues work hard to provide kind, safe care and we will continue to learn from any incident where the care we deliver does not meet expectations.

“Since Mrs Austin’s passing, we have reviewed and updated our practice for falls management at the home.

"We have also ensured colleagues are up to date with training, as well as providing additional training to ensure we can best support residents’ needs.”