Healthcare company takes fire safety obligations 'very seriously'

Elder Healthcare fined following fatal fire at sheltered accommodation

A healthcare company says it takes its fire safety obligations 'very seriously' after being fined following a fatal fire at its sheltered accommodation facility.

Elder Healthcare admitted a health and safety breach following the death of 96-year-old Olive Muriel Renecle in November 2019.

The business, which provides emergency assistance at the Fuchsia Lane sheltered accommodation apartments in Governor's Hill, released a statement following its sentencing.

It stresses that it had passed all inspections and assessments by third parties over many years prior to the incident, and that there was no medical evidence to suggest its failing had caused Mrs Renecle's death.

Chief Executive David Killip said: "The directors and staff of Elder Healthcare would again wish to express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

"Elder HealthCare has been in operation for approaching 30 years and, during that time, the safety of people living, visiting and working in all our premises have been of paramount importance.

"We take our fire safety obligations very seriously and acknowledge it did not form part of the prosecution case that Mrs Renecle’s death was a consequence of the offence with which we were charged."

The company was fined £46,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £4,000.