Jump to content

Furness General Hospital scandal: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎Investigation: link trust
Trident13 (talk | contribs)
103,559 edits
Line 20: Line 20:
==Maternity ward rebuild==
==Maternity ward rebuild==
In November 2011 with the investigation continuing, The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust announced plans to replace outdated equipment and completely rebuild FGH's maternity ward at a cost of £5 million.<ref name=Rebuild>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/hospitals-trust-to-rebuild-maternity-unit-at-cost-of-5m-1.893174?referrerPath=news/1.502699|title=Hospitals trust to rebuild maternity unit at cost of £5m|publisher=North West Evening Mail|accessdate=2 November 2011}}</ref>
In November 2011 with the investigation continuing, The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust announced plans to replace outdated equipment and completely rebuild FGH's maternity ward at a cost of £5 million.<ref name=Rebuild>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/hospitals-trust-to-rebuild-maternity-unit-at-cost-of-5m-1.893174?referrerPath=news/1.502699|title=Hospitals trust to rebuild maternity unit at cost of £5m|publisher=North West Evening Mail|accessdate=2 November 2011}}</ref>

==CQC Grant Thornton report==
In August 2012 new CQC chief executive [[David Behan]] commissioned a report by management consultants [[Grant Thornton]].<ref name="dominiczak">{{Cite news|title=NHS Watchdog accused of hospital 'cover-up' still not fit for purpose, chairman admits |first=Peter |last=Dominiczak |date=19 June 2013 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10129223/Watchdog-accused-of-hospital-cover-up-still-not-fit-for-purpose-chairman-admits.html |accessdate=19 June 2013}}</ref> The report examined the CQC's response to complaints about baby and maternal deaths and injuries at Furness General Hospital was instigated by a complaint from a member of the public and "an allegation of a "cover-up" submitted by a [[whistleblower]] at CQC."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Care Quality Commission re: Project Ambrose |work=Care Quality Commission |date=14 June 2013 |url=http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/grant_thornton_uk_llp_morecambe_bay.pdf |accessdate=19 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{Cite news|date=19 June 2013 |title=Healthcare regulator CQC 'may have covered up failings' |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22949211 |accessdate=19 June 2013}}</ref> It was published on 19 June 2013.<ref name="Cooper">{{Cite news|title=NHS watchdog covered-up scandal at hospital where eight babies died of neglect |first=Charlie |last=Cooper |work=[[The Independent]] |location=London |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-watchdog-coveredup-scandal-at-hospital-where-eight-babies-died-of-neglect-8664224.html |accessdate=19 June 2013}}</ref>

Among the findings, the CQC was "accused of quashing an internal review that uncovered weaknesses in its processes" and had allegedly "deleted the review of their failure to act on concerns about University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust." One CQC employee claimed that he was instructed by a senior manager "to destroy his review because it would expose the regulator to public criticism."<ref name=Cooper/> The report concluded: "We think that the information contained in the [deleted] report was sufficiently important that the deliberate failure to provide it could properly be characterised as a 'cover-up'."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Cover-up over hospital scandal |first=Laura |last=Donnelly |date=18 Jun 2013 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10128886/Cover-up-over-hospital-scandal.html |accessdate=19 June 2013}}</ref> [[David Prior]], who joined CQC as chair in February 2013, responded that the organisation's previous management had been "totally dysfunctional" and admitted that the organisation was "not fit for purpose."<ref name=siddique/>

On 20 June 2013, Behan and Prior agreed to release the names of previously redacted senior managers within the Grant Thornton report, who it is alleged had supressed the internal CQC report. The people named were: former CQC Chief Executive [[Cynthia Bower]]; deputy CEO Jill Finney; and media manager Anna Jefferson; who were all said by Grant Thornton to be present at a meeting where deletion of a critical report was allegedly discussed. Bower and Jefferson immediately denied being involved in a cover-up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22992625|title=NHS 'cover-up' names revealed by CQC|author=Nick Triggle|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=20 June 2013|accessdate=20 June 2013}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:38, 20 June 2013

Entrance to the maternity ward at Furness General Hospital

The 2011 Furness General Hospital maternity ward deaths investigation is an ongoing criminal investigation by Cumbria Constabulary and a number of other government and public bodies into the deaths of several mothers and newborn babies in 2008 at Furness General Hospital in Barrow-in-Furness, England. Claims of medical records being intentionally destroyed alongside the discovery of major wrongdoing on behalf of midwives lead to the Care Quality Commission threatening the maternity ward with closure.[1]

The case was covered in a 2012 BBC Panorama episode titled 'How Safe is Your Hospital?' alongside the Stafford Hospital scandal.

Investigation

In September 2011, Cumbria Constabulary assigned 15 officers to investigate the deaths of at least four babies and two mothers during 2008 at FGH; it is alleged that midwives at the hospital destroyed medical records to cover up their mistakes.[2] On 13 September a number of national newspapers reported that race played a role in the hospital's wrongdoings after it was revealed 83% of serious incidents at FGH in 2008 involved ethnic minorities,[3] while only 2% of Barrow's population as a whole classifies as non-White.[4] Cumbria Constabulary have however refused to pursue the racial angle of the crime.[3]

Besides Cumbria Constabulary, a number of other bodies involved in the investigation include health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission and The Nursing and Midwifery Council. A damning report by the CQC threatened to close down the maternity ward at FGH entirely by 21 November 2011 if major changes weren't implemented.[1] The NMC identified 19 areas requiring urgent improvement, including governance, risk management, collaborative working and leadership.[5]

In late October 2011 during the height of the investigation, leaked figures revealed that FGH had the worst mortality rate of any hospital in England.[6] The mortality ratio for The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust (which also runs hospitals in Lancaster and Kendal) stood at 124, significantly higher than national average.[7]

Notable cases

Police are yet to announce the exact number of deaths being investigated, however the six known are listed below.[8] Several families of the victims have revealed that they are suing The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, claiming clinical negligence. The claim of Carl Hendrickson (husband and father of Nittaya and Chester Hendrickson respectively) alone is expected to exceed £50,000.[8]

  • Niran Aukhaj collapsed and died in April 2008 also claiming the life of her unborn child. An inquest revealed that FGH failed to monitor her high blood pressure a week earlier.[2]
  • In July 2008, Thai-born Nittaya Hendrickson and her son died at FGH after she suffered an amniotic fluid embolism. Her husband claims records showing her heart rate during the birth have gone missing.[2]
  • In September 2008, Liza Brady's newborn baby died shortly before birth. It was alleged that midwives delayed in delivering him, despite signs of distress.[2]
  • An initial inquest into the death of nine day old Joshua Titcombe at FGH revealed the infection that killed him could easily have been treated if noticed by midwives. His parents Hoa and James claim that their pleas for antibiotics to be given to their son were ignored.[9]

Maternity ward rebuild

In November 2011 with the investigation continuing, The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust announced plans to replace outdated equipment and completely rebuild FGH's maternity ward at a cost of £5 million.[10]

CQC Grant Thornton report

In August 2012 new CQC chief executive David Behan commissioned a report by management consultants Grant Thornton.[11] The report examined the CQC's response to complaints about baby and maternal deaths and injuries at Furness General Hospital was instigated by a complaint from a member of the public and "an allegation of a "cover-up" submitted by a whistleblower at CQC."[12][13] It was published on 19 June 2013.[14]

Among the findings, the CQC was "accused of quashing an internal review that uncovered weaknesses in its processes" and had allegedly "deleted the review of their failure to act on concerns about University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust." One CQC employee claimed that he was instructed by a senior manager "to destroy his review because it would expose the regulator to public criticism."[14] The report concluded: "We think that the information contained in the [deleted] report was sufficiently important that the deliberate failure to provide it could properly be characterised as a 'cover-up'."[15] David Prior, who joined CQC as chair in February 2013, responded that the organisation's previous management had been "totally dysfunctional" and admitted that the organisation was "not fit for purpose."[16]

On 20 June 2013, Behan and Prior agreed to release the names of previously redacted senior managers within the Grant Thornton report, who it is alleged had supressed the internal CQC report. The people named were: former CQC Chief Executive Cynthia Bower; deputy CEO Jill Finney; and media manager Anna Jefferson; who were all said by Grant Thornton to be present at a meeting where deletion of a critical report was allegedly discussed. Bower and Jefferson immediately denied being involved in a cover-up.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b "Axe threat to Furness General Hospital unit". Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d MacFarlane, Jo (11 September 2011). "Police probe four baby deaths: Missing records in maternity unit where two mothers also lost lives". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Baby deaths: 'Too early to say if race played a role'". North West Evening Mail. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Resident Population Estimates by Ethnic Group (Percentages)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Barrow hospital maternity unit given recommendations". BBC News. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  6. ^ "FGH mortality rate figures leaked". North West Evening Mail. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  7. ^ "South Cumbrian hospitals 'have worst mortality ratio'". BBC News. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Ulverston man sues hospital over deaths of wife and baby". BBc News. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  9. ^ Brooke, Chris (8 June 2011). "Coroner launches stinging attack on 11 midwives who failed to spot baby's infection and then 'conspired to hide negligence'". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Hospitals trust to rebuild maternity unit at cost of £5m". North West Evening Mail. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  11. ^ Dominiczak, Peter (19 June 2013). "NHS Watchdog accused of hospital 'cover-up' still not fit for purpose, chairman admits". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  12. ^ "The Care Quality Commission re: Project Ambrose" (PDF). Care Quality Commission. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Healthcare regulator CQC 'may have covered up failings'". BBC News. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  14. ^ a b Cooper, Charlie. "NHS watchdog covered-up scandal at hospital where eight babies died of neglect". The Independent. London. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  15. ^ Donnelly, Laura (18 Jun 2013). "Cover-up over hospital scandal". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference siddique was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Nick Triggle (20 June 2013). "NHS 'cover-up' names revealed by CQC". BBC News. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Furness_General_Hospital_scandal&oldid=560785999"