Care home facing hefty fine after hypothermia tragedy
A care home faces a hefty fine after a 91-year-old dementia sufferer died after going missing from the home.
Hilda Fairweather, who was from Kidderminster, died from hypothermia after walking out of the Abele View care home in Iverley, near Stourbridge, in January 2009.
At Stafford Crown Court yesterday, Mr Paul Russell QC appeared on behalf of the home for a hearing to set a date for sentencing of the firm. It will be after April 29.
The company has pleaded guilty to failure to ensure the health and safety of its residents and failure to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.
Sentencing guidelines state the home will face a fine, which is seldom less than £100,000.
Mr Bernard Thorogood appeared at the hearing on behalf of Staffordshire District Council, which is prosecuting the home.
Also at the hearing was Mrs Fairweather's son Roger, aged 64, of Bishops Castle, Shropshire. Her husband George, 90, a retired carpenter, was unable to make it to the court.
The manager of the care home did not comment.
