Care home residents return following fatal incident

Residents are now able to return to Gainsborough Care Home following three deaths 

Residents have returned to the Swanage home after an investigation into three unexpected deaths. 

Three residents, a woman and two men aged 86, 74, 91 respectively, were all found dead at the care home on October 23rd 2024. 

At first, a 60-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence, but she has been released without charge. 

Following the incident, more than 45 residents were evacuated while emergency services arrived to help. 

Seven residents were hospitalised, and causes of the three deaths are still unknown. 

Now, the care home has reopened to residents who were placed elsewhere in Dorset and Hampshire after the incident. 

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “All agencies involved, including Dorset Council, the Care Quality Commission, and Public and Environmental Health Services, have agreed that residents can safely return to Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage, following the conclusion of health, safety and environmental checks.”