Scalding bath unsafe, inquest told

6:41pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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A disabled teenager suffered severe burns after being lowered into a scalding bath by staff at an Oxford care home, an inquest heard today.

Yelena Hasselberg-Langley, 18, died in hospital shortly after she was lowered into the bath, which had not been safely fitted, Oxford Coroner’s Court was told.

Ms Hasselberg-Langley was the first resident at the Life-ways Community Care home in Owens Way, Temple Cowley, which was built partly to suit her needs as a client of the county council’s social services department.

Both her parents, Dr Keith Langley and Torlid Bastien, were in court for the inquest.

The jury was told the bath had not been officially signed off by the company which installed it, Gloucester-based Arjo, before it was used.

As a result, the anti-scald mechanism on the spa bath, to limit the water temperature to 44 degrees Centigrade, was not working.

This meant that the mixer tap could be turned up to 66.8C.

Nick Welch, social services’ head of major programmes, said the council had reviewed its procedures after the death.

“This has been an incident that has made us look very carefully at our procedures,” he added.

Patrick Weaving, of Arjo, said he had visited the home to commission the bath in January. This would have included setting a maximum temperature of 44C, but he could not do so, because there was no water supply.

Ms Hasselberg-Langley was taken from the care home to the John Radcliffe Hospital on August 27, then transferred to a burns unit in East Grinstead, Sussex, where she died on August 31.

Pathologist Dr Simon Poole, who carried out a post mortem, said Ms Hasselberg-Langley suffered extensive burns to her lower body. The cause of death was multi-organ failure, due to scald injuries.

After the incident, Arjo’s Stewart Smith found that hot water could come out at 68C.

He said he ensured the bath was safe by setting the anti-scald mechanism, after seeing steam coming off the water. The bath is still in use.

Three care workers were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the incident but were later told that they would not be charged.

The inquest continues.