Inquiry launched into death of twins at scandal-hit hospital

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched at the scandal-hit Stafford Hospital after the deaths of two-day-old twin boys.

Alfie and Harry McQuillin died on November 1 and unconfirmed reports have suggested health officials are examining whether the twins were given incorrect doses of a drug.

A member of staff has been suspended and an independent paediatric doctor is tasked with leading an investigation into the circumstances.

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Staffordshire Police have said preliminary tests indicated the boys, who were born at 27 weeks, died because they were premature "rather than as a direct result of any medical treatment".

The hospital is currently the subject of a major public inquiry that is investigating "appalling" care standards, which came to light after 400 more people died there between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected.

The parents of the twins have said they were "deeply upset and distressed" by the tragedy.

In a statement released by police, Phillip McQuillin and Ami Dean said: "We are deeply upset and distressed by the deaths of Alfie and Harry.

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"A full investigation into the circumstances has been launched, which should now be allowed to run its course.

"We would ask the media to respect our privacy as we try to come to terms with what has happened."

A police spokesman said: "Post-mortem examinations by a Home Office pathologist proved inconclusive and further tests will now be carried out.

"However, preliminary results suggest that the twins died because of their prematurity rather than as a direct result of any medical treatment."

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The babies died at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire after being transferred from Stafford Hospital. An inquest into the deaths was opened and adjourned on Monday.

The chief operating officer of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Maggie Oldham, said: "Our deepest sympathy and our thoughts continue to be with the twins' parents and their loved ones at this most difficult time.

"We have commissioned a full external investigation and this will be led by an independent paediatric doctor.

"The public inquiry started this week and we would like to refer to Robert Francis QC's opening statement on Monday, in which he said, 'It is inevitable there will continue to be incidents giving cause for concern, both at Stafford and in other hospitals as well. Such incidents do not of themselves show that there has been no improvement, any more than that the absence of such incidents would prove everything has been put right.'

"We at Mid Staffs have made significant improvements.

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"This however has not made us complacent and we are working continually to improve our services and the care we provide for our patients and their loved ones."

The public inquiry follows a 2009 Healthcare Commission report which listed several failings including receptionists assessing patients arriving at accident and emergency, a shortage of nurses and senior doctors and pressure on staff to meet targets.

The chief executive of the trust, Antony Sumara, said the organisation was "absolutely devastated" by the twins' deaths. He said: "We have commissioned a full external investigation into the events while the twins were at our hospital. This is under way and is being led by an independent paediatric doctor."

The chief executive of patient safety charity Action Against Medical Accidents, Peter Walsh, said: "This is one of those awful, awful tragedies. It is impossible to say whether it has got anything to do with systemic problems at the trust or whether it is a tragic one-off.

"It is a dreadful, unimaginable tragedy for the family and it is yet another blow for morale at the trust at a time when it is already vulnerable."