80 demand new hospital probe
A total of 80 patients and relatives have requested an independent review of their case notes following the Healthcare Commission report into Stafford Hospital.
The high-profile report blamed shocking standards of care at the hospital for the deaths of up to 1,200 patients.
The Department for Health announced patients and relatives of those who died could have their case notes independently examined by experts.
Yesterday board members at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust heard that the reviews were likely to begin next week and will be led by Dr Mike Laker from the North East Strategic Health Authority, who has no links with Stafford hospital.
He will meet with patients or families requesting a review of their case notes and work for the trust for three days a week.
All of the review panel experts working alongside Dr Laker are independent of the Mid Staffordshire Trust. There will be a total of four review panels made up of a range of NHS professionals. They will examine whether patients received appropriate treatment and at the right time as well as any matters that families may raise.
It is expected each case note review will be completed within six working weeks from the start with all reviews completed in 12 to 14 weeks. The results of the reviews will be reported to the trust board as part of the learning process.
Families have three months left to request a review of case notes by Dr Laker and the panel.
Dr Manjit Obhrai, medical director told the board: "We aim to respond within 20 days of the first contact. It will be quite a challenge but that is what we intend to do. We will look at lessons that need to be learned from these reviews. Currently the trust does not offer counselling service, but for those patients requiring that we will provide it."
Meanwhile, an investigation into whether former trust chief executive Martin Yeates should face disciplinary action is set to report its findings "imminently."
Although Mr Yeates removed himself from his job he remains a full-time employee of the trust and has been suspended on full pay of more than £3,000 a week. Labour MP David Kidney and Stone MP Bill Cash have both called for Mr Yeates, from Apeton, near Stafford, to be dismissed.
New chairman David Stone told the board: "I am currently awaiting the result of that investigation which is due imminently, and any action we take will be made public."
