Tullibody care home operator fined £640,000 after resident choked on jam donut and died
dailyrecord.co.ukA care home company has been fined £640,000 after a resident choked on a piece of doughnut and died. The 65-year-old resident of Orchard Care Home in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, was on a specialist diet of minced and moist food after a severe stroke and vascular dementia left her at risk of choking.
However, on 7 August, 2019 she was given a piece of jam doughnut as a snack from the tea trolley, which she choked on.Despite efforts of care home staff and paramedics to remove the food, the resident died.At Falkirk Sheriff Court, HC-One Limited, who run the care home, pleaded guilty to failings under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £640,000.The court heard the resident was on a minced and moist diet since being assessed as having a high risk of choking on December 2, 2018.
Bread products are not suitable for this modified diet as they cannot be mashed small enough.Prior to her death, the resident had frequently been given sandwiches from the snack trolley, repeatedly putting her at risk, it was said.Main meals at the home were prepared by the kitchen and labelled with each resident’s name.
However, the snack trolley did not have information on modified diets or food suitability. Staff in charge of the trolley had also not had sufficient training on modified diets.HC-One Limited have since made changes at the home to ensure the snack trolley has suitable food for all residents.
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