A care home has admitted fault over the death of a resident with multiple sclerosis who choked on a sausage roll.
Dad-of-three Richy Passmore, 47, died after he was left to eat lunch on his own, despite strict instructions that he should be supervised at all times.
He was rushed to hospital from Beechwood Care Home in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, but tragically died, the Sunday Mail reports.
An investigation was launched by Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into Richy’s death last September.
Now, Beechwood has admitted liability after Richy's family launched legal action against them.
Richy’s daughter Rachael, 21, a university student, said: “For them finally to admit they were in the wrong is a relief. That’s all we ever wanted.
“They knew my dad couldn’t be left alone to eat but we were told there was some sort of emergency and they had to go.
“We don’t know the exact details of what that emergency was but, as a result of those actions, he choked and later died.
“We feel so let down. We put my dad’s life into their hands.
“We knew that one day we were going to lose him but to lose him earlier than we needed to has been devastating.
“It was hoped he would pass peacefully with all his family around him. But for it to happen when he was alone and probably terrified made his death so much worse to deal with.
“My dad was such a loved man, he meant everything to his family and he deserved so much more than to die like that.”
Richy, who was also diabetic, was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in 2009 and he was moved to Beechwood, run by Holmes Care Group, in October 2018.
A report on the police and HSE probe has been passed to the Crown Office and is still under consideration.
The Crown Office said: “Following a joint investigation by Police Scotland and the HSE, a report was submitted.
"This is being considered by the Crown’s Health and Safety Investigations Unit and the family will continue to be kept updated.”
Beechwood has apologised for the tragedy and described Richy as a "much-loved member of our care home".
The statement reads: “Mr Passmore was a much-loved member of our care home community and our thoughts remain with his loved ones at this difficult time.
“We accept the finding of the HSE and apologise that our record-keeping did not meet the robust standards expected.
“Over the past year, we have made significant improvements to policies to reduce the risk of it happening again.”
North Lanarkshire Council said: “Following the conclusion of the investigation, our role is to work with the home to ensure the recommendations are implemented and to continue to monitor the quality of care.”
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