New damning report on Stafford Hospital failings

Almost two-thirds of Stafford Hospital case notes examined by an independent review revealed "unreasonably low standards of care", a new report reveals.

The Independent Case Note Review was set up in July, 2009, following the damning report of the Care Quality Commission into the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.

Since then, 220 relatives of patients treated by the trust, which also runs Cannock Chase Hospital, have asked to have their files examined in the wake of the health crisis.

Fifty independent experts from across the UK were drafted in by South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust to carry out the review, which has cost taxpayers around £750,000.

Their findings, presented to the PCT board at a meeting yesterday, revealed many of the case notes examined - some of which date back as far as 1995 - were either incomplete or illegible.

The reviewers also raised concerns over hygiene, treatment delays, pain relief and staff attitude.

Their report concludes that 60 per cent of the 220 files examined revealed "unreasonably low standards of care".

Director of nursing Yvonne Sawbridge told yesterday's meeting: "None of the things that have been raised are new to us.

"But that doesn't make it any less distressing to read.

"The overall quality of notes remains a concern for us and the uncomfortable truth is that the case notes did not give enough information for people to have answers to their questions.

"Two years on, should we still be discussing the fact that records aren't as good as they need to be?"

She added that bosses at Mid Staffs knew of the report and were trying to address the situation.

She said that, of the 220 reviews undertaken, 11 families remained unsatisfied and two of those had filed formal complaints.

PCT Chief executive Stuart Poynor said: "The record keeping was inadequate and that is evident.

"That is not just going to be the case for these 200 or so records."

Non-executive director David Ibbs added: "This really beggars belief. I do think, as a PCT, we ought to take this up very quickly with Anthony Sumara and ask him to remedy this as soon as possible."