E-mail this to a friendCare home fined after death
Published 02/11/2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to UK care homes following an incident in which an elderly resident died.
Alan Lucas and Richard Wooton, owners of the Ormsby Centre, a privately-owned nursing home in West Sussex, pleaded guilty in Worthing Magistrates Court to breaches in health and safety and were fined £16,000 each, plus costs totalling £22,560.
The accident occurred in November 2005 when two care assisitants placed 86-year-old resident Bettina East into a bath without conducting a number of health and safety checks.
They failed to check the water temperature and, as a result, Ms East sustained severe scalding to her legs. Her injuries were later deemed to be a contributory factor in her death a few days later.
HSE inspector Maria Strangward commented: "This case highlights the serious consequences of not sticking to the guidance set by Health and Safety for residential care homes."
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