Health trust sorry for DNA failings

A HEALTH trust has apologised for “inexcusable failings” which resulted in two staff members being dismissed at a sexual assault referral centre.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Dec 2013, 01:00 BST

Barts Health NHS Trust in east London said in a statement they were “extremely sorry” about concerns raised in 2011 relating to samples failing to be sent to forensic laboratories for DNA testing.

A spokesman for NHS England said “a serious incident was raised and an immediate investigation carried out” at the Haven in Whitechapel.

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“This investigation unearthed a further issue of results from samples having been received but not passed on to clients. A total of 93 clients were affected by the two issues,” he added.

Following the investigation, two members of staff at Barts Health were dismissed, and since April 2013, when NHS England was established, the commissioning arrangement for the centre has also changed.

In a statement, Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “We are extremely sorry for the inexcusable failings at the Whitechapel Haven.

“As soon as we became aware that there was an issue in 2011, we took swift and immediate action to ensure that all the affected samples were re-tested and contacted the individuals involved.”

Related topics:Health trustLondonNHS EnglandHaven