Monday 29 June 2009

nhs again labour lies union dictat

Patients' fears 'being ignored'

Josephine Ocloo
Josephine Ocloo fears patients and their families are not being listened to

A World Heath Organisation representative has said she fears issues remaining at Stafford Hospital are not being taken seriously.

Patient safety champion Josephine Ocloo made her remarks at a public meeting between patients and relatives and the authors of a report into the hospital.

The hospital trust has been accused of "appalling" emergency care standards.

Patients and relatives have been calling for a public inquiry into the matter.

They are due to go the House of Commons on Wednesday to speak to Health Secretary Andy Burnham over the matter.

'Work to do'

The Department of Health has acknowledged there is still some work to do at the hospital.

In a statement it said: "The Healthcare Commission's report into Mid-Staffordshire revealed a catalogue of failures at every level.

"The then Secretary of State apologised unreservedly on behalf of the NHS and the Government.

"Both the Healthcare Commission's report and Professor Sir George Alberti's report acknowledge that improvements have been made, including increases in the number of nurses, but there is more to do.

"In response, the trust has published a detailed action plan and their progress on this is being closely overseen by Monitor - the Foundation Trust regulator - the Care Quality Commission and the local Primary Care Trust."

At the meeting, Professor Sir George Alberti said there were better training programmes already in place for the nurses, but said the hospital still did have a way to go.

The government has previously said a public inquiry was not appropriate as the Healthcare Commission had already carried out a full investigation.

The hospital trust was accused of "appalling" standards after 400 more deaths than expected were recorded between 2005 and 2008

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