NHS trust prosecuted over elderly woman's fall

Hospitals and organisations which provide care for vulnerable people need to be aware of the risks of falls from windows, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The warning comes after an incident in which a 77-year old woman fell approximately 5.5 metres from a window at the Swindon Victoria hospital which was not adequately restricted.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, where Iris Carey was a patient, was prosecuted over the accident.

The Trust was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,502.

HSE inspector Alison Fry said: "The incident involving Iris Carey was entirely avoidable. The Trust had already identified a risk with the windows on this unit, as window restrictors provided to prevent falls did not meet the required standard."

Iris Carey suffered a broken ankle and a compressed fracture of a vertebrae after the fall.

Ms Fry recommended that suitable safeguards should be provided to restrict window openings with maintenance practices in place to ensure precautions work properly.

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