Hospital managers fined over medication

Care Principles, which manages Linden House, a low to medium-secure hospital in Market Weighton, was ordered at Beverley Magistrates' Court to pay 17,015 in fines and costs after admitting five charges relating to the administration of medication.

The failings were uncovered by inspectors from the health watchdog the Care Quality Commission during unannounced visits in September 2008.

The court heard medicine was kept stored at temperatures exceeding those prescribed by drug manufacturers, there was a failure to maintain appropriate stock checks or record the destruction of drugs, while on one occasion a patient was administered medication without the clinician having written up the rationale for prescribing it.

After the case, commission senior enforcement manager Tim Weller said: 'We are encouraged that the standards of care for patients at Linden House have improved since legal proceedings against the operator started, although it is disappointing that legal action was required before standards were addressed.

"We hope the quality of care for these vulnerable patients continues to improve and will be scrutinising the services at this hospital for the further improvements we expect to see."

Linden House is for patients with a learning disability and for patients detained under the Mental Health Act.

Care Principles chief executive Sean Sullivan said: "We can now put this case behind us and continue to work closely with our regulators to uphold the highest standards and deliver the best possible service to patients."