Social Care News

Care home provider fined after resident choked on fish and chips

The UK’s biggest care home provider, Four Seasons Health Care (England), has been ordered to pay £170,000 in fines and costs after a vulnerable resident choked to death on fish and chips during an entertainment evening at its premises in Chorley. The case was heard at Preston Crown Court in March 2014.

The provider was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found that 75-year-old Rita Smith should only have been provided with pureed food as she had swallowing difficulties and was at risk of choking - however Preston Crown Court was told she was given fish and chips in a cone during an entertainment evening on December 1, 2010, two weeks after being admitted to the home.  A post mortem found the primary cause of death was choking.

• Ms Smith suffered from dementia and motor neuron disease.
• The HSE found that the Euxton Park Care Home was made aware that she needed pureed food and supervision by a carer while eating but that this had not been communicated to staff.
• A care plan and risk assessment had also not be completed by Four Seasons for Miss Smith on her arrival at the home, which would have identified the need for a care worker to feed her pureed food during meal times.
• The HSE investigation into the incident found neither of the staff who organised the film and supper evening had been made aware that Miss Smith could not eat solid foods.

Four Seasons Health Care (England) Ltd, part of the Four Seasons Health Care group which runs more than 500 care homes and specialist care centres in the UK, pleaded guilty to a single breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

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HSE website: UK's biggest care home provider fined over fish and chip death