Mental health care provider fined for standards breaches

Care Principles, which operates Linden House in Market Weighton, near York, was prosecuted by the Care Quality Commission after spot checks in September 2008 revealed minimum legal standards of care were not being met.

The company, which pleaded guilty to the charges, was ordered by Beverley Magistrates Court to pay £17,015 in fines and costs for the breaches. Offences included failing to dispose of medication that had expired, not keeping drugs at the right temperatures and failing to train staff adequately on the safe storage of medication.

CQC senior enforcement manager Tim Weller said it was ‘disappointing’ that legal action had been required for the infringements to be addressed, although he welcomed the steps made by Care Principles since the legal proceedings had begun.

A new management team took over the health care provider in April last year. Care Principles chief executive Sean Sullivan said: ‘Our focus, as a new management team, has been and will continue to be the welfare of our patients... We will continue to work closely with our regulators to uphold the highest standards.’