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Hospital fined over shower death | Hospital fined over shower death |
(10 minutes later) | |
A hospital which was condemned for ignoring safety guidance which led to a man dying from Legionnaires' disease has been fined £80,000. | A hospital which was condemned for ignoring safety guidance which led to a man dying from Legionnaires' disease has been fined £80,000. |
Daryl Eyles, 37, had just been given the all-clear from doctors treating him for leukaemia when he took a shower at Bath's Royal United Hospital (RUH). | Daryl Eyles, 37, had just been given the all-clear from doctors treating him for leukaemia when he took a shower at Bath's Royal United Hospital (RUH). |
The hospital pleaded guilty to charges that it carried out "inadequate" safety checks on its water system. | The hospital pleaded guilty to charges that it carried out "inadequate" safety checks on its water system. |
Bristol Crown Court also ordered the hospital to pay £24,000 costs. | Bristol Crown Court also ordered the hospital to pay £24,000 costs. |
Mr Eyles's 37-year-old widow Amanda, spoke afterwards about the hospital being fined. | |
"They've got to find the money from somewhere. | |
The patients have got to [come] first every time Derek Eyles, victim's brother | |
"They've done wrong - they know they're in the wrong. It's been a long three years. I hope it never happens to anyone else." | |
Mr Eyles had been told he was likely to make a full recovery from leukaemia but he contracted Legionnaire's disease after taking a shower following his fourth and final chemotherapy session. | Mr Eyles had been told he was likely to make a full recovery from leukaemia but he contracted Legionnaire's disease after taking a shower following his fourth and final chemotherapy session. |
The bacteria had been breeding in the shower head and both the hot and cold water tanks. | The bacteria had been breeding in the shower head and both the hot and cold water tanks. |
Six-figure payout | |
The hospital later admitted liability after a Health and Safety Executive investigation exposed a series of failings in the maintenance of the water system. | The hospital later admitted liability after a Health and Safety Executive investigation exposed a series of failings in the maintenance of the water system. |
His family has already received a six-figure settlement from the hospital trust. | |
Speaking outside the court on Thursday afternoon Mr Eyles's brother, Derek, also spoke about the fine. | |
"The patients have got to [come] first every time. | |
"And if that's the only way to get the hospital, the NHS to sit up and take note, to ensure that the hospitals are clean and up to a good enough safety standard for the patient, then so be it." | "And if that's the only way to get the hospital, the NHS to sit up and take note, to ensure that the hospitals are clean and up to a good enough safety standard for the patient, then so be it." |