Care home fined after resident found dead in car park

Hugh Kearnis was found dead six hours after he got out of the care home in Glasgow's Kinning Park area

A 77-year-old care home resident was found dead in the building's car park after he got out through a fire door.

Hugh Kearnis left the Chester Park home in Kinning Park, Glasgow, in the early hours of Boxing Day 2022.

His body was discovered six hours later despite staff members falsely claiming that they had checked on him through the night.

Oakminister Healthcare Limited - which owns the home - pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety guidelines and was fined £53,750.

Glasgow Sheriff Court was told that due to the nature of the plea of guilty, the company was found not to have caused Mr Kearin's death.

The guilt was in relation to failing to ensure a system was in place to make sure the internal fire alarm door was active.

The court heard that the fine given to the company will be paid over the course of the next six months.

Sheriff Joan Kerr said: "I wish to make it clear that the court recognises that the fine cannot compensate and no fine can be adequate

"The court sends its sincere condolences for his loss."

The court heard that Mr Kearins suffered from dementia and was at risk of "absconding or wandering."

A care plan was in place for Mr Kearins to be monitored every hour by members of staff.

Sacked carers under investigation

Prosecutor Blair Speed said: "A senior care assistant and a care assistant who had responsibility for his care falsified care records.

"They falsely stated that they performed tasks involving Mr Kearins at the time when he was no longer in the care home.

"A close observation chart completed by the senior care assistant stated he had checked on Mr Kearins every hour between 2am and 8am.

"Both carers were unaware that he was not in his room until news of his death became known in the home following the discovery of his body in the car park."

The carers were subsequently dismissed from their jobs and are currently under investigation by the Scottish Social Services Council.

It is not known who the staff member was who last had access to the internal fire door.

Since the incident, the company have implemented a new system where every point of exit and entry is checked at the end of each shift to make sure the alarms are active.

An alarm has also been installed at the top of the stairs outside Mr Kearins' old room which will alert staff of someone in the area.