Health trust pays £2m for two avoidable deaths

A healthcare trust has been forced to pay out £2million over the “completely avoidable” deaths of two mentally ill patients in what is thought to be the largest ever fine of its kind.

Connor Sparrowhawk, who was 18 and had learning disabilities, drowned after an epileptic seizure when he was left unsupervised while bathing at the Slade House care and assessment unit in Oxford in 2013. In April 2012 Teresa Colvin, 45, killed herself while staying at the same facility following repeated self harm attempts.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust admitted two counts of failing to discharge its duty regarding the patients.