Priory Healthcare fined over £613,000 following avoidable death of new mother
Court finds mental health service at fault for failing to provide safe care
Priory Healthcare Limited has been ordered to pay £613,645.01 in fines and costs after being found guilty of failing to provide safe care and treatment to Amy, a 33-year-old new mother, who died in their care.
The ruling was made at Staines Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 27th July, following a prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Priory Healthcare pled guilty to offences under Regulations 22(2)(a) and 22(2)(b) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulated Activities Regulations 2014, leading to a £600,000 fine, along with a £2,000 victim surcharge and £11,645.01 in costs.
Amy had voluntarily admitted herself to The Priory Hospital Woking on 15th March 2022 due to significant mental health deterioration, including suicidal thoughts.
She was deemed at high risk and in need of proper care and protection but was found unresponsive on 21st March 2022 and was pronounced dead despite resuscitation attempts.
An inquest concluded Amy took her own life, ruling her death a result of neglect, largely due to Priory’s failure to address a known environmental ligature risk in a ground-floor disabled toilet, noted in audits since March 2020.
Rosalind Sanderson, CQC’s deputy director of enforcement, expressed that the fine was not reflective of the value of Amy’s life but hoped the prosecution would remind healthcare organisations of their duty to effectively manage risks.
She stated, “Our sympathies are with the family and friends of Amy following their sad death, which was potentially preventable. People receiving care and treatment have the right to expect that any risks to their safety will be effectively managed. This isn’t what happened when Amy was in the care of The Priory Hospital Woking.”
CQC highlighted that such fines go directly to HM Treasury and are intended to hold services accountable and protect people in care.