Shrewsbury nursing home linked to fall death for sale

A nursing home in Shrewsbury linked to an incident that resulted in the death of a frail 79-year-old woman has been put on the market for £1.25 million.

The Hartlands Residential Home in Whitehall Street has been put up for sale by director Declan Roche through Birmingham-based agent Christie & Co. It follows the death of resident Joan Bloore in March last year.

She died after falling over when she was taken out with a carer to the Spar shop in Monkmoor Road using a frame – despite staff being told not to take her out without a wheelchair.

Last month, Mr Roche, of D Roche Ltd, which owns the home, admitted two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The charges included failing to have implemented measures to ensure the safety of Mrs Bloore and failing to undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with escorting residents on trips.

Sentencing is due this month, at Shrewsbury Crown Court, after magistrates decided the maximum £40,000 fine they could impose would not be sufficient.

A spokesman for Christie & Co said the 31-place house was operating as a sister home to Hartlands Rest Home in Oswestry.

"The home has a good reputation for care within Shrewsbury and benefits from strong occupancy as a consequence.

"The home comprises of a period property with a large, purpose-built extension, so offers the appeal of an older conversion type home as well as the better facilities of the modern extension."

The home is registered with the Care Quality Commission as an elderly care home providing dementia care for up to 31 residents. In September 2011 the home was judged to have met all the essential standards of quality and safety.

Mr Roche could not be reached for comment today.

By Chris Burn