Slade House 'unlikely to reopen' after Connor Sparrowhawk death

Connor Sparrowhawk died as a result of drowning in a bath at Slade House

A care unit where a teenager died a year ago is unlikely to reopen to patients, a health trust has said.

Connor Sparrowhawk, 18, died after he was found unconscious in a bath in Slade House, in Headington, Oxford, in July last year.

An independent report ruled his death could have been prevented.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Slade House, said it intended to close the site but a final decision had not yet been made.

Options being considered include leasing or possibly selling the building.

Slade House, which cares for people with learning disabilities, has an emergency assessment and treatment unit and a unit where people stay for longer.

Slade House has been closed to new admissions since September

A post-mortem examination following Connor's death showed he died as a result of drowning, likely to have been caused by an epileptic seizure.

A report from consultancy firm Verita said the failure of staff to respond to and risk assess Connor's epilepsy led to a "series of poor decisions around his care".

In September, following damning findings by inspectors, Slade House's two units were closed to new admissions.

Lesley Munro, director for learning disability at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, said the trust intended not to reopen the unit but would be asking patients, families and staff for their views before making a final decision.