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Guilty plea by NHS Trust over epileptic teenager's death

The NHS trust where a patient drowned in a bath after an epileptic seizure has admitted guilt over his death.

Southern Health Trust pleaded guilty to breaking the health and safety law in court today.

Connor Sparrowhawk was 18 years old when he sadly died after drowning in a bath at Slade House in Oxford in 2013.

His death sparked the discovery that the NHS Trust had not properly investigated 272 deaths of people under its care.

A medical tribunal last month found the psychiatric doctor responsible for Connor's care did not carry out a risk assessment for the epileptic teenager.

Hannah Bottomley, clinical negligence solicitor at Potter Rees Dolan, said:

Southern Health admitting their guilt over the death of Connor Sparrowhawk comes four months after it was confirmed that the HSE were going to prosecute them for failings in health and safety.

Whilst nothing can bring Connor back or right the terrible wrongs that lead to his death, I hope this admission of guilt provides his family with some element of closure.

We posted previously about the HSE prosecution into Connor's death after the Inquest into his desk found that serious failings and neglect had contributed.

Hannah Bottomley is a clinical negligence solicitor with Potter Rees Dolan with a particular interest in representing the interests of families of patients who have died as a result of hospital errors. Should you have any queries about the issues raised in this article and wish to speak with Hannah or any other member of the clinical negligence team please contact us on 0161 237 5888 or email Hannah.