Trust probe into chief’s role after baby’s death
AHOSPITAL trust is investigating its own boss on the orders of the Health Service watchdog following claims he “covered up” the death of an Olympic sprinter’s baby.
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust has been told it must look into whether Robert Woolley is a ‘fit and proper’ chief executive following the tragedy.
Newborn Ben Condon died at eight weeks old from a lung condition after his parents were told it was ‘just a cold’ by staff at Bristol Children’s Hospital in 2015.
Premature Ben was not prescribed antibiotics until just over an hour before he died after suffering two cardiac arrests, and his parents claim that was a fatal error.
The Condons later exposed how senior staff at Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital discussed deleting a recording in which they admitted mistakes.
Ben’s parents, Allyn, 44, and Jenny, have campaigned and claimed chief executive Mr Woolley has frequently changed his story and encouraged colleagues to do the same.
Now it can be revealed that the CQC has begun an investigation into whether the trust is meeting its responsibilities under the “fit and proper persons” rules.
The CQC does not have the authority to investigate individuals, but it can look at whether a trust is breaking the rules by who it employs.
A letter from the CQC to trust chair Jeff Farrar suggests the investigation centres around the actions of Mr Woolley. It comes after more than three years of campaigning by Ben’s parents – dad Allyn has regularly picketed outside the hospital for the last 18 months.
Jeff Farrar, chair of the trust’s board of directors, has launched a separate independent investigation into Mr Woolley.
The parents were only given an apology from Robert Woolley last year.
Allyn, from Weston-super-Mare, said: “There is only one outcome for this. He needs to be removed from his job. I don’t think there’s any grey area. If you cover up a baby’s death, you get removed from your job. And I’ll go to the hospital for the next ten years, I’m not bothered.”
Baby Ben was born at 29 weeks at Southmead Hospital in Bristol in February 2015 and spent seven weeks in the intensive care unit.
He returned home to Westonsuper-Mare, with his parents but he was re-admitted to hospital two days later after coughing and sneezing.
His parents were told their son effectively had a ‘common cold’ and said they were repeatedly assured he would get antibiotics.
In fact he was also suffering from a bacterial infection which had triggered sepsis.
He was eventually prescribed antibiotics at 3pm on the day he died, April 17, 2015, but these were not administered until 8pm, an inquest heard.
In July 2015, Allyn and Jenny Condon met doctors to ask why staff failed to spot and treat the fatal infection. But when the couple left the room, medics were caught on tape agreeing that their baby should have been given antibiotics much sooner – which could have saved his life. Then they discussed
deleting the conversation, fearing it would incriminate them.
It only came to light because Mr Condon, a former Olympic sprinter, and his wife had left their mobile phone recording while they were out of the room.
Avon coroner’s court concluded earlier antibiotics would not have prevented his death, at an inquest in July 2016.
After campaigns from the family, Mr Wooley apologised in October 2017. In a statement he said: “We failed to take the opportunity to give Ben timely antibiotics and this contributed to his death.
“I am also deeply sorry for the additional distress and hurt caused by the wait Mr and Mrs Condon have endured before receiving this explanation.”
Unsatisfied, Mr Condon complained to the CQC, and met with them four months ago in London.
The watchdog is now investigat- ing whether the trust “properly discharged its legal duties under the the Fit and Proper Persons Requirement”.
The CQC wrote to the chair of the trust’s board in September asking it to investigate and “establish the primary facts of any matter that gives rise to a concern about Robert Woolley”.
It asked for proof the trust had taken steps to confirm Robert Woolley was of good character when he was hired, was qualified and fit to fulfil the role of CEO and had no history of misconduct.
Meanwhile Allyn is still standing outside the hospital every morning holding a picture accusing Mr Woolley of covering up details about his son’s death.
He said he had fought an exhausting battle get justice for his son, coming up against an unhelpful system.
“It’s designed to crush you, basically,” he said. “I’ve been out there for 18 months – outside the hospital – every morning at different sites around the hospital,” he said.
“I’ve had people tell me I’m a disgrace for what I’m doing. And I’m a lying bastard – this is NHS staff.”
He remains skeptical about whether the latest investigation will get him answers, and added: “Nothing makes me hopeful any more.”
Allyn said: “I read the CQC a 15-minute statement. After reading the statement I asked them, ‘do you believe an investigation should happen?’. And the head of the care commission said ‘Yes we do, based on what you’ve said’.
The chairman of UHB appointed an independent investigator, Alan Yates, who has been in touch with Allyn. Mr Yates was involved in the investigation into the Mid Staffs heath scandal and the probe which saw Southern Health pay out £2 million after the death of vulnerable teenager Connor Sparrowhawk.
A spokesperson from University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said: “The trust has received a referral from the Care Quality Commission under the fit and proper persons requirement.
“The trust is committed to working with the CQC on this matter. The chairman of the trust has commissioned an independent investigation in response to the referral and will carefully consider the findings once this has concluded.
“We are unable to comment further while this process is under way.”