Health trust faces big fine over patient’s death

A SCANDAL-HIT hospital trust is facing an unlimited fine for health and safety law breaches which led to the death of a diabetic patient.

The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust pleaded guilty yesterday to failing
to ensure the safety of Gillian Astbury, who lapsed into a diabetic coma while being treated at Stafford Hospital in April 2007.

Magistrates sitting in Stafford committed the case to the town’s crown court after ruling that their sentencing powers for the offence were insufficient.

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The Trust pleaded guilty through its solicitor to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to properly manage and organise hospital services, including its systems for record-keeping, patient information and communication between staff members.

The criminal prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive three years after an inquest jury ruled that Mrs Astbury’s death was contributed to by low staffing levels and other systemic failures. The inquest also concluded that the failure to administer insulin to the 66-year-old amounted to a gross failure to provide basic care.

David Lewis, for the Trust, told JPs that the organisation wished to place on record that it was “very sorry” for the loss, pain and distress caused by its actions.