NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been fined after a patient took his own life while in their care.

The health board pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety and was ordered to pay £235,000.

It was heard at Paisley Sheriff Court that a father of four, aged 36, had been admitted to the South Ward at Dykebar Hospital on January 20, 2020 – just two days before taking his own life.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that some of the fixtures and fittings on the ward were not of an anti-ligature design.

They also found failures by the health board to ensure that the existing ligature points at Dykebar Hospital were suitably and sufficiently risk assessed.

Following the man’s death, remedial work was started but the failings continued until March 23, 2020.

The health board managed the existing ligature risks by placing at risk patients on ‘enhanced’ observations by nursing staff.

Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations for the COPFS, said: “NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had a duty to keep their patient safe.

“Had they implemented all reasonably practicable measures they could have prevented him from taking his own life in the way he did.

“Their failure to ensure that ligature points within the hospital were suitably and sufficiently risk-assessed and that patients were not exposed to those ligature points led to the death of a man in their care.

“This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to manage and implement effective measures can have fatal consequences and they will be held accountable for this failure.”

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