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| Hospital fined over shower death | Hospital fined over shower death |
| (20 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, Andrea, said afterwards: "Patients put their trust in hospitals. They expect to be kept safe. | |
| "Mr Eyles had bravely fought his own battle against leukaemia. It was a battle he had won. | |
| The patients have got to [come] first every time Derek Eyles, victim's brother | The patients have got to [come] first every time Derek Eyles, victim's brother |
| "He was then struck down by Legionnaires' disease due to the woefully poor levels of maintenance and management. | |
| "They've done wrong - they know they're in the wrong. 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." |
| Mark Davies, chief executive of the Royal United Hospital, Bath NHS Trust said: "We fully accept the decisions from the Court. | |
| "We were all shocked by the sudden death of Daryl Eyles in February 2004. The trust accepted liability in October 2004 and has since reached a settlement in response to the family's claim." |