Pressure sores, also called pressure ulcers or bedsores, can develop when a person cannot change position easily and pressure reduces blood flow to skin and underlying tissue. In UK hospitals and care homes, prevention is commonly treated as a basic standard of safe care. This article explains how duty of care connects to practical prevention steps, and why repeated omissions can raise concerns when a pressure sore develops or worsens.
What duty of care means in everyday prevention
Duty of care is the expectation that a provider takes reasonable steps to keep a person safe while they are receiving treatment or support. For pressure sores, that usually means identifying risk, planning prevention steps, and delivering those steps consistently. The exact plan depends on mobility, comfort, general health, and other risk factors.
Risk assessment as the starting point
Prevention usually begins with a risk assessment when someone is admitted to hospital, moves into a care home, or starts a package of care. Risk can change quickly if a person becomes more unwell, less mobile, dehydrated, or unable to eat properly. Good care commonly involves reviewing risk when circumstances change and updating the care plan accordingly.
Care planning that matches the level of risk
A care plan should turn assessment into practical actions. For someone at higher risk, the plan often includes regular repositioning, suitable pressure relief surfaces, daily skin checks and clear escalation steps if early signs appear. A plan that exists on paper but is not followed in practice does not protect the person.
Repositioning, support surfaces and comfort
Repositioning reduces prolonged pressure on bony areas such as heels, hips, buttocks and the base of the spine. Support surfaces, such as pressure relieving mattresses or cushions, can reduce pressure but do not replace monitoring and movement. Correct positioning also matters, because sliding and shear can increase damage.
Skin checks and early warning signs
Early signs can include redness or warmth that does not fade when pressed, tenderness, swelling, itchiness, or changes in skin texture. In darker skin tones, colour change may be harder to see, so pain, heat, firmness or swelling can be important. Safe care usually involves acting on early signs rather than waiting for obvious breakdown.
Documentation and accountability
Records help staff coordinate care across shifts and show what was observed and done. Turning charts, skin check notes, and care plan reviews can help clarify whether prevention steps were delivered consistently. Documentation issues do not automatically prove negligence, but they can matter where risk was known and timing was important.
Further reading
For a broader overview of how pressure sore concerns are assessed in the UK, see: pressure sores negligence claims (UK) hub.
Key points
- Duty of care connects to practical prevention steps when risk is known.
- Risk assessment should be completed and reviewed when the person’s condition changes.
- Care plans should translate risk into consistent action, not just paperwork.
- Repositioning, support surfaces and skin checks work together to reduce harm.
- Clear records help show what was done and when, especially across shifts.
This page is general information and does not provide medical or legal advice.
Next: Clinical standards and escalation: records, reviews and accountability