A HEALTH watchdog has warned Basildon Hospital it will get tough if it fails to make significant improvements in the way it takes care of patients with learning disabilities.

The warning comes from the Care Quality Commission after the hospital was told to pay £90,000 for failing in its care of Kyle Flack.

The 20-year-old suffocated in one of the hospital’s beds.

On Tuesday, Judge Christopher Mitchell ordered the hospital to pay a £50,000 fine and £40,000 costs, after chief executive Alan Whittle admitted a breach of safety rules in the care of Mr Flack, who was quadriplegic and had cerebral palsy.

The Care Quality Commission has since said it is watching the hospital “extremely closely” to make sure it improves staff training, communication with patients and the way it assesses and manages safety risks.

If satisfactory improvements are not made, the regulator said it would consider “enforcement action”.

The body has the power to fine, prosecute, and even close hospitals.

Mr Flack died in October 2006 when his head became trapped between his bed rails.

While handing down the fine at Basildon Crown Court, Judge Mitchell said he had limited the amount because of the cash-strapped hospital’s vital role in the community. He said: “I am quite satisfied the hospital has now done what it should, and probably more, to make sure patients like Kyle Flack are properly assessed when admitted.” Maggie Rogers, director of nursing at the hospital, said lessons had been learned from Mr Flack’s death.

However, Kyle Flack’s foster mum, Gillian Flack, 54, said: “Ultimately, nothing will bring Kyle back.”