out-of-hours care

15 July 2010

Dr Stuart Gray, son of David: 'Not confident mistake won't happen again'
A company providing out-of-hours care in an area where a pensioner died after a painkiller overdose had "systematic" failings, the NHS regulator says.

David Gray, 70, from Manea, Cambridgeshire, was killed by Dr Daniel Ubani, a German medic working his first NHS shift for Take Care Now.

The now-defunct firm was criticised for failing to act on previous cases and warnings on standards.

The Care Quality Commission said the whole NHS should learn lessons too.

The death of Mr Gray in February 2008 after he was given 10 times the normal dose of diamorphine has focused national attention on weekend and night GP cover, which in many cases is provided by private firms.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Take Care Now failed on many fronts. The lessons of its failure must resonate across the health service”
End Quote
Dame Jo Williams

CQC chairman
The CQC criticised Take Care Now (TCN) for failing to investigate and learn from two previous cases of diamorphine overdoses prior to Mr Gray's death.

Both were given by doctors from Germany, where the drug is not routinely used.

The firm was also warned prior to the case by one of its own doctors that it was "only a matter of time before a patient is killed".

But it did not take sufficient action, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said.

Staffing levels were also said to be potentially unsafe.

'Stinging reminder'

The report also criticised the NHS trusts which used the firm, which is no longer in existence. As well as Cambridge, TCN had contracts in place with NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, NHS South West Essex, NHS Suffolk and NHS Worcestershire.

None of the trusts had robust arrangements to share information and out-of-hours care was judged to be a low priority - reflecting the national position.

Who Were Take Care Now?
Continue reading the main story The firm originated form Suffolk Doctors on Call (SDOC), a not-for-profit co-operative of GPs established in 1994
TCN was formed as the commercial wing of SDOC in 2005, following changes to out-of-hours care
The firm won contracts with five NHS trusts to provide weekend and night cover for GPs
Following the death of Mr Gray, the firm had its contract with the local NHS terminated
Its services were taken over by a larger company called Harmoni
The lack of attention from regional health authorities was also highlighted.

CQC chairman Dame Jo Williams said: "Take Care Now failed on many fronts. The lessons of its failure must resonate across the health service."

A spokeswoman for the Patients Association said the findings were a "stinging reminder".

Since the case, standards have been tightened. Guidance has been issued to local health managers stressing the importance of good monitoring and information sharing, while firms providing out-of-hours care must be registered with the CQC from 2012.

But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said more action was needed.

He said the steps outlined in a White Paper on Monday to give GPs more responsibility for running services would lead to improvements.

"Out of hours care needs urgent reform," he said.

Meanwhile, German medical authorities have signalled an intention to bring Dr Ubani before disciplinary hearings.

He has been struck off the medical register in the UK, but is still free to work in Germany.

An inquest in February ruled Mr Gray had been unlawfully killed.
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