A Health Board has been fined following the death of a vulnerable patient who left a hospital ward unnoticed through an unsecured door. The HSE investigation concluded that Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board failed to act on previous absconding incidents, which would have better protected 74-year-old Lynwen Thomas, who went on to fall in icy conditions in the hospital grounds and suffer a fatal head injury.

On 13 November 2019, Mrs Thomas, a patient on Llynfi Ward at Maesteg hospital, who was a known wanderer, left the hospital after 8pm unnoticed by hospital staff. That evening was very cold with snow on the ground. Mrs Thomas fell on a path, resulting in her fatal injury. An investigation by the HSE found that, despite previous absconding incidents, including one involving Mrs Thomas, no reasonably practicable measures were taken at Llynfi Ward until after the fatal incident to protect vulnerable patients from wandering and potentially coming to serious harm.

Following another patient absconding incident at Princess of Wales Hospital, HSE served an Improvement Notice on the Health Board on 30 September 2020.

An improvement notice sets out the changes an organisation must make by a certain date. The Notice applied to the Bridgend locality and required the Health Board to assess the risk to patients from escaping, absconding or wandering. The Notice was not complied with by the due date.

Before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board pleaded guilty to charges of breaching Section 3(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £850,000 with full costs awarded of £10,627.30

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Helen Turner, said:

“Lynwen Thomas was a vulnerable patient, and known to abscond. Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board had a duty to protect her and other patients on Llynfi Ward, and they failed to identify or act on absconding risk. Despite significant warnings, there was no risk assessment or physical security measures introduced to prevent vulnerable patients from leaving the ward unnoticed. This incident was easily preventable and the risks should have been identified.”

A family statement issued on behalf of Lynwen Thomas said:

“Our mother was the loving and kind heart of our family who always put others before herself, especially her children and grandchildren. She was an incredibly caring, loving, and selfless person. We are devastated to lose her under such tragic and preventable circumstances. Today’s prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive is the first step towards establishing what happened to our mother and we are grateful for their professionalism and engagement with us as a family. We want everyone to know how wonderful, caring, and intelligent our mother was. She loved us all very much and we loved her in return. We miss her terribly and it’s only when this is all over that we can start to properly grieve for her.”