EU: 70 deaths on ward of shame: Patients neglected by lazy n
70 deaths on ward of shame: Patients neglected by lazy nurses in a filthy, blood-spattered casualty unit, says damning report
By Daniel Martin
Last updated at 12:16 AM on 27th November 2009
Comments 31
Dozens of patients died needlessly as a result of filthy conditions in an NHS hospital, a shocking report said last night.
Appalling nursing care in Basildon University Hospital contributed to a mortality rate that was more than a third higher than the national average.
At least 70 people may have died who should have been saved.
It is the latest example of patients paying the ultimate price for Labour's failure to stamp out Third World conditions in the NHS - despite trebling taxpayer funding over the past decade.
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Dirty: When inspectors visited the Basildon University Hospital in Essex they found serious breaches in hygiene standards
The Essex hospital is run by one of the supposedly 'elite' foundation trusts, which have greater freedom to manage their finances. Last night there were angry calls for its entire management team to resign.
Unannounced visits by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found blood spattered on curtains and chairs in the A&E ward, a catheter bag on the floor, poorly-trained nurses and patients treated on trolleys.
A commode was soiled under the seat, nurses were failing to feed frail elderly people and patients had pressure sores.
There was no paediatric nurse for most of the time so children were not getting the best care.
The mortality rate in the A&E ward was 6.1 per cent in 2008, more than a third higher than the national average of 4.4 per cent.
The scandal mirrors what happened at Mid Staffordshire foundation trust - a much bigger trust than Basildon - where 400 people died over three years.
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Scandal: Over three years 400 people died at Staffordshire General Hospital in a similar case to Basildon
Katherine Murphy of the Patients Association said last night: 'The entire board should most certainly resign.
'If there was one member who had any concerns, they should have been raising them.
'We're sick and tired of NHS managers and senior staff walking away unscathed when families are left with a life sentence of grief.'
Alan Whittle, the trust's £150,000-a-year chief executive, said last night they were confident of returning conditions to an acceptable standard before the deadline of next Monday set by the Care Quality Commission.
But the CQC, which said 'systemic failings' had led to ' persistently high mortality rates', has ordered in a taskforce from the regulator Monitor to push through improvements, saying it has lost confidence in management's ability to do so.
Monitor has the power to sack trust bosses.
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It also emerged last night that the CQC awarded the trust 13 out of 14 points for cleanliness only last year, rating it 'good'. It was only the spot checks last month which uncovered the failings.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: ''When the appalling standards of care at Stafford Hospital were revealed we were assured by Labour ministers-that it was "an isolated case". That sort of complacency is simply not good enough.
'I am extremely disturbed by this news and the effect that these shocking conditions may have had on patients. It is unforgivable if any lives have been needlessly lost.'
The inspectors carried out their unannounced check on October 8 to 'see the hospital as a patient or visitor would see it'.
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They also analysed complaints, from which they learned that many elderly patients had not received help with eating.
In its report, the CQC said its main concerns were persistently high mortality rates, a poor care environment, inadequate arrangements to treat children, poor nursing care, breaches of infection control standards and a lack of leadership at both board and ward level.
Management of the A&E department was poor, with problems including lack of leadership, poor environment and huge delays.
There was no system to ensure staff could observe patients in the waiting room, meaning they could not spot if a patient's condition deteriorated.
Patients had little privacy, with curtains separating cubicles. Some were cared for on trolleys around the edge of the major injuries area and, in busier times, in the centre.
Arrangements for children were also criticised. There were no special areas for children in the major injuries area.
There were few nurses with psychiatric training and no consultant with a paediatric speciality.
The ward spent more time without a paediatric nurse than with one.
Basic nursing care was also ' inconsistent'. Complaints from patients showed nurses failed to monitor, feed and give drugs correctly.
Up to 20 patients in 1,000 had evidence of pressure sores - as against 11 per 1,000 nationally.
Local care homes repeatedly expressed concerns about residents coming back with pressure sores.
It was unclear who was in charge of the nurses, and those meant to be in charge lacked the 'professional maturity' required.
Inspectors also found that the trust was not effectively decontaminating reusable equipment or maintaining a clean and appropriate environment in the A&E department.
They found 11 out of 12 trolley mattresses were stained and two had a 'foul odour'.
It says: 'Nurses we spoke to were not aware that mattresses could be opened and checked.'
Blood pressure cuffs and suction machines for clearing airways were dirty and dusty.
Half the curtains that separated cubicles were soiled, some with blood - and the system for changing them was not working.
CQC chief executive Cynthia Bower said last night: 'The trust has taken our concerns seriously but improvements are simply not happening fast enough.
'We have lost confidence in the management's ability to deliver on commitments and turn the situation around. We have therefore asked Monitor to use its formal powers to kick-start improvement.'
LibDem spokesman Norman Lamb said: 'People have a right to know how on earth a hospital can be rated "good" a few weeks before such serious failings come to light.
'This government has set up a labyrinth of bodies and inspectors which are meant to ensure high quality standards in our hospitals but it simply isn't working.'
Katherine Murphy of the Patients Association said: 'Yet again the regulator's assessment of a hospital has proven to be farcically inaccurate. It is nothing but a tick-box exercise that didn't reveal any of these problems.
'Yet again patients are being neglected. Lack of monitoring, lack of help with feeding, lack of dignity, avoidable pressure sores.
'How many times do the public need to keep hearing about this before the Government is embarrassed enough to do something about it?'
Health minister Mike O'Brien said: 'Patient safety must be a top priority for the NHS and all patients deserve the highest quality of care.
'We expect these issues to be dealt with quickly and effectively to ensure high quality, safe care for patients. Their progress will be closely and rigorously overseen by Monitor.'
The trust has two hospitals providing care for around 300,000 people in South-west Essex. Most of the inpatient care is at the 777-bed Basildon University Hospital, while outpatient care is at Orsett hospital.
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'Torture': Lucy Anderson, pictured with husband Adam, says she was refused a scan at Basildon hospital despite being five months pregnant and bleeding heavily
Lucy Anderson blames the Basildon hospital for the 'mental torture' of losing her unborn baby.
She was five months pregnant and bleeding heavily when she went to the A&E. She allegedly waited five hours to be seen, only to be refused a scan due to lack of staff.
The 29-year-old said she was then told her baby was fine and was sent home, even though doctors could not find a heartbeat and she was still bleeding.
When she went back the next day, she was told the baby was dead but she would have to give birth to it - although nothing could be done for three days.
Mrs Anderson, who is pregnant again, said: 'I had to walk around with a dead baby inside. You can imagine the heartache this caused, not to mention the mental torture.'
The nightmare continued once Mrs Anderson, of West Thurrock, was admitted to the hospital. She started to haemorrhage and her condition was critical.
'I nearly died that night but was informed I was put aside because a child had been admitted after an accident,' added Mrs Anderson, who was so traumatised she was off work for six months.
The hospital began an investigation last month into her experience in January.
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