Trust fined £8,000 over scalding

A hospital trust has been fined £8,000 after an elderly woman was scalded in a hot bath.

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust pleaded guilty to charges under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Oxford Magistrates' Court.

The court heard the hot water temperature was about 55C when she suffered burns last October.

The trust, which runs John Radcliffe Hospital in Headley Way, was ordered to pay £2,286 and £500 in compensation.

The elderly woman was not discharged until six weeks after the 10 October incident.

She had been due to leave hospital on the day it occurred.

The bath involved was one of four in the hospital not fitted with Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMVs), the court heard.

We have offered our sincere and unreserved apologies to the patient and her family for the pain and distress caused Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is now advising hospitals and other establishments like care homes to ensure all baths and showers are fitted with TMVs.

Matthew Lee, HSE inspector, said: "The trust took immediate action following the incident to ensure that all baths in the hospital were fitted with TMVs and has implemented a comprehensive range of improvements to ensure that there can be no repetition of this type of incident.

"I would advise those who care for vulnerable people to ensure they have adequate controls in place to prevent a similar accident occurring."

Elaine Strachan-Hall, director of nursing and clinical leadership, from Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, said: "The trust deeply regrets the incident, and we have offered our sincere and unreserved apologies to the patient and her family for the pain and distress caused.

"When the accident occurred we launched our own internal investigation and have co-operated fully and openly with the HSE throughout.

"The patient made a successful recovery with us, and was later discharged home."