Stafford Hospital scandal: Justice a step close, but not for everyone
Justice has moved one step closer for the families of four patients who died at Stafford Hospital after bosses admitted 'significant' failings.
The Health and Safety Executive had charged Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust with four health and safety breaches in the cases.
And at Stafford Magistrates' Court yesterday, a lawyer pleaded guilty on behalf of the defunct hospital trust to the four charges in relation to Lillian Tucker, Patrick Daly, Edith Bourne and Ivy Bunn.
The charges related to:
Ms Tucker being given penicillin, despite being allergic to the antibiotic.
Failures in record-keeping and shift handovers prior to the death of all four patients.
Failure to implement a falls policy to protect Ms Bourne, Mr Daly and Mrs Bunn.
Mandy Luckman, partner at Irwin Mitchell solicitors, which represented the family of Ms Tucker, said: "We represented families affected by these issues and although it has taken some time to get to this stage it is positive they have been spared a long and drawn out trial.
"It is extremely rare for the HSE to get involved with medical institutions so this prosecution indicates the severity of the problems at Stafford Hospital and shows that measures will be taken by the organisation to prosecute Trusts failing their patients."
She added: "The case once again shines a spotlight on the importance of patient safety and the serious impact safety failures can have on patients, as well as their loved ones.
"These shocking failures are further proof that the NHS needs to embrace the Duty of Candour and ensure that it puts patients at the heart of every decision, even when things have not gone to plan."
The Trust's admission took just 12 minutes at Stafford Magistrates' Court yesterday.
But it has taken more than a decade's worth of campaigning from families of patients.
The Trust – which now only exists as a legal entity – had vowed to reach a conclusion in as swift a manner as possible.
Tim Rideout, Trust Special Administrator for MSFT, said: "We have been working with the HSE since their decision to prosecute MSFT. I have made a commitment to bringing matters to a conclusion in the best interest of the families concerned."
Healthwatch Staffordshire, independent health watchdog in the county, also reacted to the latest developments.
Chief executive Jane Senier, said: "It is very disappointing to learn of these serious shortfalls in care in light of the undoubted improvements made at the County, about which we get much positive feedback.
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families concerned."
Mr Daly', aged 89, suffered a fall after being admitted to the hospital with diabetes. A second fall left him with a fractured skull.
Daughter Una Garrately said: "Myself and my mum left him on the Friday night in really good humour, we were told that he was going to be discharged on the Monday so he was in great spirits and then to be seeing him a next time in a very poorly state was awful."
His widow Catherine Daly said doctors then said there was 'not much we can do'.
Robert Francis QC's report in 2013, the result of a public inquiry, revealed there were many incidents of poor care at the hospital between 2005 and 2008.
But out of the four deaths which the trust pleaded guilty to breaches, two occurred in the last two years. Despite the positive result for the families there are many others who initially pursed legal action but dropped the cases in an attempt to move on.
Gillian Peacham, from the Cure the NHS campaign group, lost her husband Arthur 10 years ago at Stafford Hospital after he contracted Clostridium difficile.
Mrs Peacham, aged 75 and from Penkridge, said: "I am happy for the families involved that they are going get some sort of relief. It is a great thing for the hospital to stand up to it.
"We are 10 years down the line since my husband died and it haunts you. All you want is someone to say 'sorry it was our fault, we were to blame'."
