IHC service arm ordered to pay $550k over Taranaki bath drowning rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
An autopsy report concluded the cause of death was “not inconsistent with death due to drowning”. The charge was laid by WorkSafe New Zealand, which said the company failed to comply with its health and safety duties and this exposed the woman to risk of death and serious injury. Idea Services initially denied the charge but pleaded guilty as the December trial entered its second week. It’s not the first time a service user has drowned in a bath while in the care of Idea Services. In January 2014, a 15-year-old drowned while staying at a respite home in Palmerston North run by the company after staff left him alone for 15 minutes, despite it being known he required continuous supervision.