Care home owner 'shocked and saddened' after resident dies swallowing bleach tablet

An investigation is underway into the death of a man who swallowed a bleach tablet at his nursing home.

The Balmoral Court Care Home resident was rushed to hospital but died, after ingesting the toxic cleaning chemical at the home in Byker, Newcastle on 4, August.

Balmoral Court, which is owned by Crown Care, specialises in the care of older people with dementia.

A spokesman for the home said: “We are very sad to confirm one of our residents at Balmoral Court has died in hospital after an incident at the home.

“A full investigation is under way and we are liaising closely with the family and the appropriate authorities.

“Until that investigation is complete it would be inappropriate to comment further other than to say we are deeply shocked and saddened by this incident.

“We send our sincere condolences to the family.”

The nursing home’s latest inspection report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), published in March, gave the home an overall rating of ‘Requires improvement’ when CQC inspectors made an unannounced inspection last December.

CQC inspectors said in the report: “All reasonable steps had not been taken to reduce risks and make sure that people’s care was provided in a safe and hygienic environment.”

A CQC spokeswoman told carehome.co.uk: “We are aware of the sad death that has occurred within Balmoral Court and we are working with other agencies, including the police, the local authority safeguarding team and the coroner, to investigate the circumstances of the incident and the subsequent death.”