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Care Home Fined £37k After Patient's Fatal Fall
1 May
Summary
- Care home provider fined £37,000 following a resident's death.
- Patient died after falling from a first-floor window with inadequate restrictors.
- The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment.
Mr and Mrs J C Walsh, a care home provider, has been ordered to pay a total of £37,000 after a resident's death. The company, which operates Ambleside care home in Gloucestershire, entered a guilty plea at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on 30 April.
The provider admitted to failing to ensure safe care for resident John Allen, who died on 2 June 2023. Allen sustained fatal injuries after falling from a first-floor window that lacked adequate restrictors, allowing it to open more than 10cm.
Allen was on temporary respite care and had expressed a desire to leave the home. His family had sought assurances about safety measures, including window security, but were told it would be impossible for him to exit through the window.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) brought the prosecution due to the provider's non-adherence to safety guidance. The fine includes £20,000 for the company, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and £15,000 in costs.
