Council fined over care home burns

Two residents were injured in the care home accidents

A council has been fined £20,000 after two elderly residents suffered severe burns in separate care home accidents.

Hampshire County Council officials pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations following the accidents which saw the two residents fall against hot radiators and water pipes.

Monday's Winchester Crown Court case was brought after an 80-year-old man needed skin grafts when he fell out of bed onto a pipe at the Pier House residential home in Lee-on-the-Solent.

In the second incident, an 87-year-old man sustained burns to his shoulders, head and neck after falling against a radiator in his room at the Green Meadows residential home in Denmead.

Both incidents could easily have been avoided had simple guards or covers been fitted Health and safety inspector Steve Poolman

Passing sentence, His Honour Judge Longbotham said: "It must be clear to all local authorities that if they break the law and do not discharge their duties, they are liable to be prosecuted.

"Companies and local authorities that fall short of standards imposed by legislation face penalties."

A spokeswoman for Hampshire County Council said: "It's very regrettable that either incident occurred and a total of £360,000 has been spent on permanent protection works throughout the county to ensure similar incidents do not take place.

"Local authorities have to assess many different health and safety issues and we deal with those demands by risk management."

Health and safety inspector Steve Poolman said: "The hazards presented by burns to vulnerable service users are well known and publicised.

"Both public and private sector residential home operators should take such elementary precautions."