Inquiry Finds Care Home Flaws Contributed to Choking Death

A fatal accident inquiry has concluded that defects in a Greenock care home's procedures contributed to the death of a 70-year-old resident who choked on unsuitable food, and that simple safeguards could have prevented the tragedy.

Robert McPaul died on March 30, 2018, at Sir Gabriel Woods Mariners Home in Greenock, Inverclyde, after choking on a piece of puff pastry from a steak pie served to him during dinner. The inquiry, held at Greenock Sheriff Court and recently published by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, determined that the meal did not align with Mr. McPaul's dietary restrictions or his selected menu option of chicken paella. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as choking, with cerebrovascular disease noted as a potential contributing factor.

Mr. McPaul had resided at the care home since 2009 and had a documented history of choking incidents, leading to a prescribed soft food diet to minimize risks. On the day of the incident, he took one mouthful of the steak pie, which was not prepared to meet his needs, and began choking. Staff members immediately attempted to dislodge the food from his airway, activated an alarm, and called for paramedics....