UNEXPLAINED DEATHS AT FAILED’ HOSPITAL
We’re sorry and we’re improving NHS paid for private ops
Middlesex Hospital has many of the same hallmarks. At Stafford we had an A&E department that was failing patients.
“Like North Middlesex it was stretched on the wards.
“We had patients falling because no one would take them to the toilet. They couldn’t get water and we had rude staff. It’s shocking that we are getting a repeat.”
Labour MP David Lammy said: “I have been pressing the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to place North Middlesex Hospital in special measures for months.
“I trust he will now finally pay attention. It is unacceptable that a lack of dignity and respect was shown to some patients.”
Mr Hunt, hospital chief executive Julie Lowe and David Prior, chairman of the Care Care Quality Commission, were alerted more than a year ago by campaigner Fiona Bell.
She said: “All the evidence is that nothing was done. Mr Hunt needs to explain.”
The hospital isued apologies yesterday. A spokesman said: “We express our deepest sympathy to Mrs Morfett’s family for her death.
“Our records do not appear to indicate that anything fell on Mrs Morfett, rather that her injury was caused by her falling as she got out of bed. However in light of her family’s continued concerns, we are carrying out a further review.
Investigation
“We offer the family of Armagan Denil our deepest sympathy. The independent investigation into his death, which we have shared with them, found that our paediatric A&E team followed NICE guidelines correctly and were right to discharge him when they did.
“There were no clear symptoms of meningitis at this stage. Tragically the disease can advance very rapidly and his condition must have deteriorated.
“When he was readmitted eight hours later there were clear symptoms of the disease.
“Our team of doctors and nurses did their utmost for him but sadly were unable to save his life.
“We have investigated Mr Alabogaz’s death fully and accept that we made some mistakes in his care. We have learned from these and apologised to his family.” BOSSES at North Middlesex Hospital insist they are turning the corner as they battle to improve patient care.
We first exposed how the hospital was leaving patients waiting up to seven hours on hospital trolleys.
Our revelations in February sparked an urgent probe by the Care Quality Commission.
Then last week we revealed how the hospital had an unusually high rate of unexplained deaths.
Yesterday North Middlesex University Hospital medical director Dr Cathy Cale said: “We’ve apologised for the poor care in our A&E.
“We are determined to improve and believe we have turned a corner in recent weeks. Waiting times are improving and we have achieved the 95 per cent “see and treat” target over a number of days this week for the first time in nearly a year.
“Using the most comprehensive and wide-ranging measure, the mortality rate is better than average.” A HOSPITAL trust is investigating after NHS cancer patients were referred to a private clinic run by two of its consultants. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust gave £1million to Spire South Bank Hospital, which paid Worcestershire Bowel Clinic to treat NHS patients. The clinic is run by Stephen Lake and Steve Pandey, both of whom are also employed by the Trust, it was reported this week. Before they set up their private clinic in 2012, they were involved in a decision to move NHS bowel treatment from three sites to just one – Worcestershire Royal Hospital – in their role as clinical directors. The Trust said both men deny any wrongdoing.