Scandal-hit hospital is facing 200 cash claims
HUNDREDS of people are lodging compensation claims against disgraced Stafford Hospital.
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust is facing legal action after an inquiry into its hospital.
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WHAT A DISGRACE: Our story last month when the findings of the inquiry into care at Stafford Hospital were revealed.
A board report states that the number of people making claims could top 200.
Last March, a report by the Healthcare Commission revealed a catalogue of failings at the trust. At the end of last month, an inquiry based on evidence from more than 900 patients and relatives revealed patients were routinely ignored by uncaring staff.
Now patients and their relatives are lodging compensation claims.
London-based Leigh Day & Co is one of the firms dealing with some of the claims. It said today that it has 75 clients lined up and another 30 waiting to be seen.
But the hospital report states: "There are also another 115 other potential claims being brought by other solicitors."
Representatives of the Leigh Day & Co said "shocking" witness statements have been taken from relatives of people who died at the hospital. The firm has now introduced a cut-off point of March 31 for people to come forward with claims relating to treatment provided on or before February 28 this year.
Solicitor Emma Jones said: "In relation to action against a hospital in a poor medical setting, this is probably the largest case we have had. We want to form a group made up of individual claims so that we can start to move everything forward en masse."
The claims are for clinical negligence and/or breaches of human rights. A second group could be set up for people who have complaints after the cut-off point.
Julie Bailey, from Milford, pictured, formed Cure The NHS following the death of her 86-year-old mother Bella Bailey.
She said: "I am not in the least surprised at the amount of people who could put in claims. It just shows the extremity of the harm they were doing over the years."
The Sentinel reported last month how Stone pensioner May Ellis was given food containing gluten while she was being treated at the hospital, despite her having an intolerance. An inquest into the 78-year-old's death also heard of other problems during her stay.
Mrs Ellis, who suffered from Clostridium Difficile at the hospital, died on February 13 last year from bacterial peritonitis. Daughters Christine James and Amanda Dixon said they saw a catalogue of errors at the hospital but had yet to decide whether to put in a claim.
Leigh Day & Co can be called on 020 7650 1374.
3 Comments
by Erlow Jnr, Stone
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 10:25AM
“Chris, why have you chosen to make this personal?
I have neither had treatment nor do I work at Stafford Hospital. I like many had a friend who died there last year and am never likely to know if this could have been prevented.
My point is I thing we have well and truly established that what happened there was terrible and should never be allowed to happen again. I do not feel that tying up all the current hospital staff in further enquiries, litigation cases and removing money from the NHS will make "things change" as you suggest. Moaning is the easy bit, and I happen to think us Brits are rather good at it.”
by chris, stoke
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 2:08PM
“I personally think, Erlow jnr, that you have not had anything bad happen to you at this hospital. If so you would think differently. There is talk of people who have died because of incompetence!! It's time that people in this country learn to complain or nothing is going to change!!
You say all we want to do is give this hospital a 'kicking'?
I wonder if you are one of the administrators who has to dedicate his precious time answering claims and doing paperwork? Wake up and smell the coffee!”
by Erlow Jnr, Stone
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 9:54AM
“What happened at Stafford is a disgrace, but how is this going to help. Not only will the financial cost of all of these claims take funds away from improving patient care, people dont seem to realise how much time managers, administrators and CLINICAL STAFF will have to dedicate to answering each of these claims and doing all the paperwork.
Im beginning to think all we want to do is to continually give Mid Staffs a kicking rather than actually see improvements in care.”