A COUNCIL has been fined £30,000 after a severely disabled man drowned in a bath at his home.

Epilepsy sufferer John Wood, 50, who had learning difficulties, was found at his Durham County Council support bungalow, in Bishop Auckland, on November 12, 2006.

Durham Crown Court heard that Mr Wood was discovered submerged in the bathwater by a support worker, on his return after less than five minutes absence while helping another resident dress.

Despite attempts at resuscitation, Mr Wood was confirmed dead at Bishop Auckland General Hospital later that morning.

Mr Wood, who had lived in the bungalow since 1997, suffered seizures every three to four weeks, and at least three times while bathing.

Although a post-mortem examination confirmed he died from drowning, it remains unclear if he suffered a seizure or just slipped and was unable to lift himself out of the water.

But, following an inquest last June, at which a verdict of accidental death was recorded, Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle said he planned to write to the county council to highlight “systematic failures” which he believed contributed to the tragedy.

The council subsequently admitted two charges brought by the Health and Safety Executive at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, County Durham, in November.

They related to its failure to make a suitable assessment over Mr Wood’s care and in ensuring his safety.

The magistrates committed the case for sentence at the crown court, where Judge Christopher Prince yesterday imposed the fine and ordered the county council to pay £20,736 prosecution costs.

He said: “It is clear in this case the council did not make sufficient and suitable assessment of the care needed during John Wood’s bathing.”

The judge said the council also failed to indicate the level of necessary supervision needed while instructing and training staff.

He said the management “failed to state the obvious to the support workers”, that Mr Wood should not be left alone while in the bath.

Rachael Shimmin, the county council’s director of adult and community services, said: “We’re all deeply saddened by, and truly regret, this tragic accident, and would like to offer our sincerest sympathies to John Wood’s family and friends.

“We’ve listened very carefully to what has been said in court and we fully accept the judge’s findings and the penalty imposed.

“Systems and procedures were in place, but they were clearly not monitored or applied as they should have been.

“The council undertook a prompt and rigorous review of the circumstances leading to John’s death, and implemented a detailed action plan to remedy shortfalls in practice and tighten internal management arrangements.”

Ms Shimmin said the council’s response and implementation of its action plan was judged “speedy and thorough”

by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

The commission said: “In reviewing procedures and quality assurance systems, the council has sought to ensure that, as far as possible, a similar incident should not occur.

“While systems clearly need to be robust, it is impossible to completely eliminate the risks associated with an individual’s care.”

The court heard that both Mr Wood’s sister, Patricia Lavy, from Sedgefield, and his brother Ralph, wrote to staff after his death, thanking them for the level of care given to their brother.