Britain’s NHS is paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation to bereaved relatives and victims after failing in patient care. An independent inquiry found earlier this year that the Stafford hospital routinely neglected patients and displayed systemic failings.
Between 400 and 1,200 more people died between 2005 to 2008 than would have been expected, the inquiry said. The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, it reported had become preoccupied with cost-cutting and targets. Now scores of families will receive payouts ranging from £1,000 to about £27,500, with an average payment of more than £11,000 in compensation. Total costs are still being estimated. According to a spokeswoman the figure was expected to be less than £1m, but it is believed to be Britain's largest-ever group claim against a hospital.
Chief Executive, Antony Sumara of the trust said, “As always, I offer our sincerest apologies to the families concerned for the distress caused by the poor care their relatives received at our trust in the past…We have made a lot of progress over the last year in improving the care for our patients. We will continue to focus our efforts on building on these improvements and making sure that they are sustained.” The trust, which also runs Cannock Chase hospital, is still falling short on 11 key standards, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Recent inspection by the CQC showed that the trust complied with only five of the 16 objectives set out by law to maintain quality and safety in hospitals. The trust's managers have been given 28 days to provide a plan of action to reach its targets, and CQC inspectors will return to assess the improvement.
Leigh Day & Co Solicitors has been representing families claiming compensation from the trust over the past few months. The company said in a statement, “The Healthcare Commission published a horrifying report into the care and treatment being provided at Stafford hospital. It...detailed many stories of patient abuse and neglect… Significant amounts of compensation were achieved for families and each of our clients will also receive an apology from the new chief executive of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.”
A public inquiry into failings at the trust will be carried out in November.
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