Trust pleads guilty after patient fire death

A trust has pleaded guilty to fire safety offences relating to a patient’s death in a rare case where a fire service has brought a prosecution against an NHS provider, HSJ can reveal.

Christian Raeburn died aged 36 following a fire at Pendleview Mental Health Unit, which is part of Blackburn Hospital, on 25 December 2023.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust submitted its guilty plea to six offences under fire safety legislation for commercial buildings last month.

The charges included breaches of the Fire Safety Order relating to general fire safety precautions, maintenance, and staff training. 

Police told local media they were called following a report of arson and found a man unresponsive at the scene, who died the following day.

It is extremely rare for an NHS trust to be prosecuted by a fire service. There have only been two cases in England between 2016-17 and 2024-25, according to government statistics. 

Mr Raeburn reportedly set fire to a mattress in his room and died the following day from injuries sustained in the fire. 

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Source: HSJ, 19 May 2026