Care firm fined after resident choked to death

An understaffed care home has been fined heavily over failings that led to an autistic woman choking to death.

- OLIVIER VERGNAULT

In December 2023, an inquest into the death of Tina Allen, who had been a resident at Valley View care home, in St Teath, near Camelford, since 2003, found the 59-year-old choked on food which was considered high-risk as part of her care plan.

At the time of the hearing, assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Guy Davies concluded that Tina, who had autism and learning disabilities, died as a result of neglect at the severely understaffed care home.