Woman died in hospital after carer seriously injured her in hoist incident at Drumbrae Care Home in Edinburgh

A woman died in hospital after a carer “seriously” injured her in a hoist incident in at a care home Edinburgh.

Edward Boateng was working as a care assistant at Drumbrae Care Home when the incident happened on May 3, 2019.

An investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found that he failed to “ensure that all four points of a sling were attached to the hoist” when lifting a 90-year-old patient from her bed.

The watchdog said that Mr Boateng’s actions caused her to fall from the hoist onto the floor and sustain “serious” injuries.

She required medical attention and was admitted to hospital where she developed bronchopneumonia and subsequently died.

The SSSC found that that the sling had only been attached at three points of the hoist when a colleague of Mr Boateng’s began operating it cause the patient to fall.

Following investigation it was found that the hoist and the sling were both suitable and no defect in them contributed to the fall.

The watchdog said that Mr Boateng’s conduct was “fundamentally incompatible” with being a registered social services worker before deciding to remove him from the register.

“We recognise that making a removal order would affect your ability to work and make a living in the social series workforce, and we realise that it will be seen as marking you as being of bad character.

“Nevertheless, we consider that it is proportionate to make a removal order.

“The order is necessary for the protection of the public and to maintain the trust and confidence in the social services profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession,” the SSSC said.

Drumbrae Care Home has been contacted for comment.