Health board fined over deaths of patients

NHS Lothian was given the penalty following the deaths of two men, aged 55 and 79, who were patients at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.

The 55-year-old man died on October 29, 2017. He had been in the neurosurgery ward after an attempt to take his own life.

He was not given a room with restricted windows and died after falling 36ft.

The 79-year-old man was in the hospital’s medical assessment unit on January 23, 2021. He had been experiencing hallucinations, confusion, distress and delirium. He fell from a first-floor window after trying to escape from the ward over the course of several days. He died on February 8, 2021.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, the health board pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety legislation and was fined £45,000 for the first incident and £175,000 for the second.

HSE inspector Kerry Cringan said: “Two vulnerable gentlemen who were in hospital to receive care lost their lives in these tragic incidents. Lothian health board failed to ensure the risks patients of falling from windows were adequately managed.

“All companies operating in the health and social care sector are required to ensure that systems of work are in place to ensure those in their care are safe.

“The risk of falls from windows is well-known and there are standards for opening sizes that must be achieved.

“HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director at the health board, said: “Following these incidents, a range of immediate actions were undertaken.”

She added: “Comprehensive reviews were also carried out to ensure that lessons could be learned.”