Nursing home fined over resident suffers burns

A nursing home has been fined and ordered to pay compensation to an elderly victim who was lowered into a scalding hot bath.

Rootcroft Ltd, which runs the West House Nursing Home in St Vincent’s Road, Westcliff, admitted breaching health and safety regulations at Southend Magistrates Court.

The 72 year old victim was being lowered into the bath in a hoist by two care assistants but suffered first degree burns to his feet; the temperature of the water may have been as hot is 72°c. He was removed from the bath immediately when it was clear he was in pain. He was taken to hospital where he was kept overnight.

Investigations by the Health and Safety Executive found no thermostatic mixing valve was fitted to the water supply to prevent the temperature exceeding 44°C. The care assistants had also failed to check the water with a thermometer, a procedure that had been ordered by management but had not been enforced. The Health and Safety Executive Inspector stated that the home had failed in its duties and the incident was entirely avoidable, if thermostatic mixing valves had been installed at very little cost.

Rootcroft Ltd were fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,989 in costs. The company was also ordered to pay the victim £500 in compensation.

Redress lawyers have vast experience of personal injury cases, and their campaigning ethos on behalf of victims of road traffic accidents, industrial accidents and industrial diseases means they are experts on all aspects of health and safety legislation and related issues.

Contact our specialist lawyers today on 0800 0287828 and we will deal with your compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis.