Stafford and Cannock Hospital trust 'to go in march'
The health trust which runs hospitals in Stafford and Cannock could be disbanded as early as March, it was revealed today – after the most senior nurse to be disciplined over the Stafford Hospital scandal agreed to be struck off.
Under the controversial proposals, the University Hospital of North Staffordshire will take over the running of Stafford, with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust taking over Cannock.
Up to 350 staff will move over from New Cross Hospital to Cannock under the plans and negotiations have already begun with staff ahead of the secretary of state confirming the proposals.
Health watchdog Monitor approved the plans earlier this month and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will make a final decision by February 26.
But New Cross chief executive David Loughton said the final approval could be given in days. Mr Loughton said: "We've started the negotiations with staff at Cannock and there's a number of people who've got a letter of intent.
"We will immediately offer terms of employment when the go-ahead is given by the secretary of state. The trust could be disbanded at the end of March at the earliest, or it could be the end of July.
"But we'll have expenditure for a number of staff and the reaction of staff at Cannock is extremely positive."
News that the hospitals could be downgraded earlier than expected comes after Janice Harry, who was previously director of nursing at Stafford Hospital, reached an agreement with the nurses watchdog the NMC to be taken off its register.
Harry, who is now retired, was accused of bullying colleagues and endangering patients' lives with inadequate staffing levels and had originally been given a five-year caution for failings in her role. The agreement means she will no longer be permitted to work as a nurse in the UK.
As part of moves to disband the trust Stafford will see its maternity unit downgraded and A&E opening hours permanently reduced to 14 hours.
