Agincare welcomes the conclusion of the police investigation which confirms that environmental factors, including carbon monoxide were not the cause of deaths at the home on 23rd October 2024.
The death of three residents within a short period of time, whilst profoundly sad, is not unknown in residential care and nursing homes, particularly where residents are living with chronic life-threatening illnesses and their health can decline rapidly and unpredictably.
Two of the residents passed away due to natural causes, and the third as a result of long-term health complications relating to catheterisation overseen by healthcare services.
The impact of the early morning emergency evacuation on 23rd October meant many residents had not yet received their medication, breakfast or other routine care and support. As a result of the distress and disruption, some residents were admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure. This was not due to carbon monoxide, as initially reported.
Within hours, police ruled out the presence of carbon monoxide or any other environmental factors, a conclusion publicly confirmed only when the investigation closed seven months later, on 12th May 2025.
A spokesperson for Gainsborough Care Home said:
We are very pleased that this long and drawn-out police investigation is now closed and that initial concerns about carbon monoxide or any other environmental causes have been discredited and ruled out.
“The impact of this incident has caused ongoing distress, not only to the families who have had to wait months to discover the cause of death of their loved ones, but also to the residents who were evacuated and displaced.
This has also had a profound impact on the care home manager, who was arrested, and her team who have lived under the shadow of suspicion and speculation for seven months.
Throughout this incident, within the constraints of the ongoing police investigation, we have kept in contact with everyone involved, and offered to meet with them now the investigation is closed.
Agincare’s thoughts remain with everyone affected, and we would like to thank the Swanage Community for their support during this time.
Agincare will release an exclusive interview to broadcast on Air 107.2 FM in due course.