A health organisation has been fined £40,000 after a pensioner fell to his death at a health centre.
Benjamin Withers, known as John, from Fareham, died after the mobility scooter he was driving crashed into a wooden weather screen on the bridge leading to Fareham Health Centre.
Portsmouth Crown Court heard how an order for work on the walkway had been cancelled and rescheduled 20 times before being cancelled completely.
The 82-year-old grandfather-of-two had been leaving following a routine appointment on September 20, 2012, the court heard.
The collision caused a section to give way and Mr Withers and his mobility scooter fell three and a half metres onto the walkway below.
A Health and Safety investigation found the barrier had not been constructed to the required standard to resist impact from a mobility scooter, no assessment had been made to consider the suitability of the weather screen and the structure had not been adequately maintained.
The investigation also found that the collapsed section was so badly decayed that portions of wood could be easily removed by hand.
NHS Litigation Authority pleaded guilty to breaching section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
It has taken on legal responsibility on behalf of the now abolished Portsmouth City Teaching Hospitals PCT and Hampshire PCT.
Judge Sarah Munro QC said the starting point for such cases was £100,000, but said she had taken into account the early guilty plea and the fact that any money would be coming from public health resources.
She fined NHS Litigation Authority £40,000 and awarded costs of £15,000.
Trevor and Antony Withers - Benjamin Withers' sons.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Michael Baxter said: "This tragic incident could have been avoided if the barrier at Fareham Health Centre had met well known and established standards for design and construction of barriers.
"Instead a family have lost a well - loved husband and father.
"Mobile scooters are being used increasingly, especially in pedestrian areas.
"Businesses need to appreciate this and ensure existing structures and barriers are reassessed to ensure they are suitable for these machines."
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