NHS trust fined following patient injury

An NHS trust has been issued a fine following an incident in which a patient was injured.

During a hearing at Oxford magistrates' court, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust - which provides general healthcare services to the local population in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties - was ordered to pay a total of £10,286.

It had pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches.

In October last year, an elderly patient was scolded while taking a bath and suffered burns to her body. Despite being due to leave the hospital that day, she was forced to remain there for six weeks in order to recover from her injuries.

Before the accident, the bath had not been fitted with a thermostatic mixing valve to regulate the temperature at which water came out of the taps.

Commenting on the case, Health and Safety Executive inspector Matthew Lee said: "I would advise those who care for vulnerable people to ensure they have adequate controls in place to prevent a similar accident occurring."

22/07/2008 15:02