A&E review after safety risk claim
THREE "incidents" putting patients at risk while they were stuck in queues at North Staffordshire's accident unit are being investigated.
No further details are being given about the errors in January – but it has prompted the primary care trust responsible for monitoring "serious untoward incidents" to seek assurances on patient safety from the unit.
Patients involved have not been identified but one is thought to be June Harriman, aged 52, of Newcastle, who died of a brain aneurysm in January two days after a nine-hour wait in A&E.
Her family are still awaiting the outcome of a hospital investigation into their formal complaint.
But today her daughter Sharon Whiston, from Basford Park, said: "We hope whatever they find will force the vast improvements that are needed in that department.
"From seeing what went on in Stafford this seems to be happening everywhere. The problems have come out there but you wonder what a similar review would have found at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where they got it so badly wrong with my mum. Even after that there seems to be the same faults at the accident unit and I would be too frightened of going there even if I was bleeding to death."
The PCT's leaders say their speedy response to the problems show how safeguards are already in place to prevent a repeat of the Stafford hospital scandal.
South Staffordshire PCT was savaged last week by both the Healthcare Commission and health secretary Alan Johnson for failing to spot or act on "appalling conditions" which could have caused hundreds of deaths at Stafford.
But North Staffordshire PCT, which sends patients to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, revealed that "three serious incidents within the emergency centre had raised concerns about patient safety."
PCT quality director Andrew Lee said: "An investigation is under way and we can give no details while it is ongoing.
"But as a result of safety concerns from the incidents and waits in corridors, the chief executives of NHS North Staffordshire and NHS Stoke-on-Trent have sought assurances from the chief executive of the University Hospital."
Referring to how relatives making complaints had been dealt with by Stafford hospital, North Staffordshire PCT chairman George Wiskin said: "We are all angry about what happened and we give a public assurance that complainants will not be demonised here."
PCT chief executive Tony Bruce added: "What happened was completely unacceptable. We are all shocked and we never want to see it happening here.
"There have been worries at times about patient safety at the UHNS but we have responded quickly because people expect their health service to be safe."
5 Comments
by vicky, burslem
Thursday, December 24 2009, 1:54PM
“my mum was told she was constipated and died from septic shock through an infection she had after a procedure she had done at the city”
by John Caddy, Biddulph
Monday, March 23 2009, 12:35PM
“I am Alys (Gillow Heath ) brother and fully endorse her comments. My mother was taken in at 8pm by ambulance yet it was almost 4am when she was seen and discharged witha 'water infection' it was clear she had suffered a stroke aas there were all the symptoms discribed in the current TV information slots yet why could not the 'professionals' see what we amatuers knew to be correct. The only thing I disagree with is that my sister says it could have had devasting consequences, I believe it already has our mother suffers still with slurred speech and I do not suppose that will get any better, so there will always be the ' what if ' question. I invite anyone at the NSRI to comment, this took place in September 2008. I ahve no faith in their process to consider raising it officially. John”
by Labyrinth, stoke
Monday, March 23 2009, 12:26PM
“All our working lives we have paid into the NHS only to find ourselves using the hospital in a genuine emergency. We then have to queue behind those that see the place as a social club where many have never paid a penny into in their lives.”
by Sharon, stoke
Monday, March 23 2009, 10:34AM
“The trouble is the hospital have got away with this poor treatment and care for so long, as there are undoubtedly numerous cases that have been brushed under the carpet as they have not been reported. The more people that report them in the press and make formal complaints the better, this can not keep being ignored”
by Alys, Gillow Heath
Monday, March 23 2009, 10:02AM
“My mother was sen to A & E last year with a suspected stroke, her speech was badly affected, paramedics and ambulance staff, all felt that she'd had a stroke, however after some hours of waiting at A & E, a doctor said it was a water infection (despite no sample being done?) and sent her home with anti-biotics, we were all very concerned, but she insisted on trusting the doctor and took her medication for a week. However when we eventually made her go to the GP a week later, he said she had HAD A STROKE and made her an appointment to see a consultant who sent her for scans, which revealed the correct result of a stroke. So time was wasted, yet now the adverts. all say get help at once, we did but were badly let down by the A & E, which could have had devasting consequences - Alys”