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Care Home Fined £16K After Choking Death
3 Mar
Summary
- An 86-year-old choked to death on food not modified for his diet.
- The care home was fined £16,000 for health and safety breaches.
- Supervision during the meal fell short of required standards.
A care home in Selkirk, Riverside Care Ltd, has been fined £16,000 after an 86-year-old resident, Thomas Telford, died from choking on his meal. The incident occurred on May 25, 2023, when Mr. Telford, who had swallowing difficulties requiring mashed food, was served a meal that was not appropriately modified.
The court heard that the food served to Mr. Telford was not pureed or altered to meet his dietary requirements. Despite efforts by a carer who noticed his distress and raised the alarm, he tragically choked to death.
Riverside Care Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The company acknowledged that the wrong meal had been served and that the supervision provided during Mr. Telford's meal fell short of the necessary standard. The fine was reduced from £24,000 to £16,000.
The sheriff emphasized that the improper plating and inadequate supervision were contributing factors to the avoidable death, expressing sympathy to the victim's family. The company stated its deep regret and noted that staff training on dietary needs has since been significantly updated.
