Health Secretary apologises over Stafford Hospital failings
HEALTH Secretary Alan Johnson this afternoon apologised for failings at the NHS trust running Stafford Hospital, where hundreds more patients than expected have died.
Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was today condemned in a Healthcare Commission report which found "appalling" standards of care in A&E.
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It followed a lengthy inquiry into high patient death rates and a campaign launched by families who claimed their loved-ones had been failed by the trust.
Today, Mr Johnson promised an independent review into emergency care at Stafford Hospital.
And he apologised for the scandal.
He said: "I would like to thank the Healthcare Commission for their extensive investigation and the thoroughness of their work.
"On behalf of the Government and the NHS I would like to apologise to the patients and families of patients who have suffered because of the poor standards of care at Stafford Hospital.
"There was a complete failure of management to address serious problems and monitor performance. This led to a totally unacceptable failure to treat emergency patients safely and with dignity.
"NHS staff working hard across the country to provide excellent care will be appalled by this report and I would urge every manager and clinician to digest its findings to ensure that these events are never repeated."
He went on: "Local patients will want absolute certainty that Stafford Hospital has been transformed since this investigation began. To that end I have asked Professor Sir George Alberti, National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care to lead an independent review of the trust's current A&E services.
"I have asked the National Quality Board to ensure that the early warning system for clinical under-performance is working effectively across the whole of the NHS."
Read more about the Healthcare Commission's findings at Stafford Hospital
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by kelly, stoke
Wednesday, March 18 2009, 10:55AM
“i was recently in A&E in north staffs where a lady had collapsed in the waiting room.I was there with my 5 year old son we ha to wait in the childrens waiting area we were there for 10hours he wasnt allowed drink or food as he had a problem with his knee where he couldnt straighten it.I had to take him to his x-rays as there were no porters to help not that i mind im his mother but i did get lost.His blood sample had to be done again as it got contanimated the nurses where brilliant and after 9 hours rang the ward he was to go onto to tell them they were going to give my son food and drink because he had been so good and it was ufair to starve him any longer they got him a sandwhich and me one and drink for us both.I have no problem with the nurses at all it was the consultants that left him not being able to eat and drink.We ended up going to the ward at 8pm at night and then i had to take him for another x-ray on our own with no knowledge of the wards and bring him back we got lost again.the nurses though were brilliant and did there best the 3days we were there for.”
by Tod, Biddulph
Wednesday, March 18 2009, 9:25AM
“John says "14 hours to see a Doctor". When did you last wait 14 hours for a loaf of bread in Tesco? Tesco feeds about 1/3 of our Country. How about Tesco running Stoke and Stafford Hospitals? Tesco has better trained management and possible more caring staff. Imaginem for one moment "our" Hospital Management running a Tesco store and then waiting 14 hours for a loaf of bread!!!!”
by Condemned, Stafford
Wednesday, March 18 2009, 9:17AM
“THATCHER--BLAIR--BROWN--DEATH.....The 4 Stages of the NHS”
by John, Trentham
Tuesday, March 17 2009, 10:45PM
“I agree with Martin of Stoke when he talks about "our" Stoke State Hospitals. My experience is that our Stoke State hospitals are run for the convience of the Consultants and Employees. Patients should be called "Customers" and treated as such. Last week I was told by the 999 ambulance staff attending my elderly mother at home that the waiting time to see a Doctor at A&E was 14 hours. Elderly wards are understaffed. AT times only 3 employees are allocated to a ward.”
by Martin, Stoke
Tuesday, March 17 2009, 3:14PM
“Surely now attention must turn towards the appalling treatment provided by the University Hospital A&E dept North Staffs.I cannot believe that despite all the continual press and patient complaints the situation goes on. If one reads the complaints about Staffords A&E then one could be reading about the UNHNS!”