Thu, 17 Dec 2015
The NHS trust that ran Stafford Hospital has been fined £500,000 for “basic” blunders linked to the death of four patients between 2005 to 2014.
Earlier in the case, brought by the HSE, the court was told that the trust’s inadequate measures to protect patients caused the deaths of Jean Tucker, Ivy Bunn and Patrick Daly.
It was heard at Stafford Crown Court that the fourth victim, Joy Bourne, died following a fall but pathological evidence could not conclusively connect mistakes in her care to her death.
Opening the case against the trust, Bernard Thorogood said that Mrs Tucker was injected with penicillin despite her and her relatives’ repeated warnings that she was allergic to antibiotics.
Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said widespread systematic failures within the organisation had “become the norm” at the time of the deaths.
Addressing the relatives of the four patients who died, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said “I hope today brings some closure and finally draws a line under the past, and that Stafford and Cannock hospitals can open a new and bright chapter and become the hospitals that their dedicated staff and local communities can once again be proud of.”
To read more on this article click here for The Guardian, BBC News, Express and Star, ITV News and the Staffordshire Newsletter.
No5 Chambers Barrister Bernard Thorogood is part of the Regulatory and Licensing Group, click here to view his profile.
