posted 14 May 2018, 01:05 by Ian Clarenbone
Royal United
Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust has been fined £300,000 after failing to
control the risk to patients from exposure to Legionella bacteria in its water
systems.
Bristol Crown Court
heard how, in July 2015, Mr Terence Brooks, a 68-year-old patient at Bath’s
Royal United Hospital, died from Legionnaires’ disease. Following Mr Brooks’
death, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation which
found that the Trust had failed to put in place all of the necessary
precautions to minimise the risk to patients in the annex to the William Budd Ward from exposure to Legionella.
HSE’s investigation
revealed that the annex to the William Budd Ward is on a separate loop of the
hospital’s water system to that which supplies the main ward. This important
fact had not been recognised by the Trust from the opening of the annex in 2009
until Mr Brooks’ death in July 2015. This failure meant the required
temperature checks and tests for the presence of Legionella bacteria in the
water had not been carried out in the annex over this period.
Tests carried out
after Mr Brooks’ death revealed problems with water temperatures in the annex
and Legionella bacteria were found in water samples taken from outlets in all
five isolation suites in the annex to the William Budd Ward.
The strain of Legionella
bacteria which caused Mr Brooks’ death was not the same as that found in the
water system. However, HSE concluded there was sufficient evidence to prosecute
the Trust for exposing patients to risks from Legionella bacteria in its water
systems.
Royal United
Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1)
of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has been fined £300,000 and
ordered to pay costs of £37,451.78.
Speaking after the
hearing, HSE inspector Susan Chivers said: “Legionnaires’ disease is a type of
pneumonia which can be fatal and people who are being treated in hospital are
especially susceptible to infection. That is what makes RUH’s failings in Legionella
management all the more concerning. RUH had measures in
place to prevent and control the risk to its patients from exposure to Legionella
from its water systems, but these were ineffective due to the Trust not having
accurate knowledge of the layout of those water systems.”
“All organisations
have a responsibility to manage their water systems to protect people from the
risk of Legionella infection. It is essential that organisations review their
risk control measures whenever there is reason to suspect that they are no
longer valid or when there are changes to a water system.” After the hearing,
Terence Brooks’ family gave the following statement: “The family are pleased
that the HSE have pursued this and that as a result changes have been made at
the RUH. Our hope is that no other family will suffer as we have.” |
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