Another blunder at scandal hospital

Stafford Hospital bosses have been forced to apologise to two grieving parents after they sent sensitive documents to their dead son's home – almost four years after his death.

Frank and Janet Robinson say they are upset and angry after the mistake which follows their allegations that the hospital had tried to cover-up details of a report into their son's death.

Twenty-year-old John Moore-Robinson died after doctors at the hospital failed to diagnose a ruptured spleen following a bike accident on Cannock Chase in April 2006.

The hospital's head of legal services Kate Levy wrote to a senior doctor urging him to remove damaging parts of his report before an inquest to avoid bad publicity and causing further distress to the family. The report, which described John's death as "avoidable" and possibly "negligent" was never shown to the coroner.

Mrs Levy has now been formally suspended whilst an investigation into her conduct is carried out. The Robinsons, of Coalville, in Leicestershire, had been promised copies of the original report written by consultant Ivan Phair and correspondence from trust chief executive Antony Sumara several weeks ago. When they contacted the hospital to find out why the documents had not been delivered they were told they had been sent to the address of their son.

Now the couple say they plan to make a further complaint about the way they have been treated.

Frank Robinson, aged 58, said: "I couldn't believe it. We have lived at our current address for nine years and we have never been at the house where John lived. I don't know how they could use that address.

"All our correspondence came from our home which is 20 miles away from where John lived."

They only discovered the facts surrounding the cover-up of Dr Phair's report when they gave evidence to the Francis Inquiry in November – over three years since their son died.

Mr Robinson has added his voice to calls for a full public inquiry into Stafford Hospital.

Antony Sumara, chief executive of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust said: "I am so sorry that some correspondence was sent to John's former address in error.

"I quite understand that this has caused Mr and Mrs Robinson yet further distress and I apologise unreservedly for this.

"As soon as the error was confirmed a personal call was made to Mr and Mrs Robinson."