Bupa fined £3million over legionnaires’ disease death

BUPA has been fined £3million after a grandfather contracted legionnaires’ disease from his “stagnant” care home bathroom.

The company, which runs more than 130 homes in the UK, admitted a serious breach of hygiene laws that led to the death of Kenneth Ibbetson, 86, from the disease.

Levels of Legionella bacteria at the Bupa care home where Mr Ibbetson died were more than 10 times the safe limit, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Judge Emma Peters said a lack of training and a breakdown in training, system checks and standards of care led to the death.

Bupa had earlier admitted breaching health and safety rules at its 40-bed Hutton Village home near Brentwood, Essex, that led to the death of the retired businessman in March 2015, three months after he moved into the £1,000-a-week room.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Ashley-norman QC told the court: “What the family were looking for was a nursing home for their sprightly 86-year-old and they were drawn to Bupa as a reputable provider of nursing care.”

An inquest in 2016 heard that the home had been given several warnings that were ignored by staff before Mr Ibbetson’s death.

After he died the Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation and inspectors found the bacteria in Mr Ibbetson’s bathroom at the care home.

Mr Ashley-norman said that although problems had been identified at the home, warnings about necessary urgent action were ignored, checks were not regarded as a priority and not all the staff had proper training.