Care home fined after man died falling from bedroom window
By Tara O’Connor, local democracy reporter
A 57-year-old man died after falling from a window at a South Croydon care home.
Stephen Verrall was a resident at St John’s Nursing Home in Hailing Park Road.
On October 17, 2017, Mr Verrall was found in the car park outside, after an unwitnessed fall from his bedroom.
He was taken to St George’s Hospital where he died two days later.
St John’s Nursing Home Limited has now been ordered to pay £83,644.
On Wednesday (February 3) The care provider pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates’ Court to failing to provide safe care and treatment, resulting in avoidable harm to Mr Verrall while he was resident at the home.
The nursing home was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £3,474 prosecution costs, plus a £170 victim surcharge in a prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The window from which he fell had been restricted by a single metal chain attached by screws to an aluminium frame which had been in place for at least 15 years.
A health and safety consultant that attended the home the day after the incident advised a change to all the window restrictors with chains, because they were not strong enough.
The windows were replaced in February 2018 with built in window restrictors.
Neil Cox, CQC’s head of inspection for adult social care, said: “This is a distressing case and our sympathies are with the family of Mr Verrall and those affected closely by his death.
“Where we find any provider has put people using its services at risk of harm, we take action to hold them to account and protect people.
“We hope this prosecution reminds care providers that they must always ensure people’s safety and manage risks to their wellbeing.”
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