Parents say they are still a long way from justice after Stafford Hospital report
The parents of a patient who died less than 24 hours after being discharged from Stafford General Hospital said they still have a long way to go before they see justice.
Frank and Janet Robinson, from Ellistown, had hoped that yesterday's publication of the final report from a public inquiry into
-
Frank and Janet Robinson
failings at the hospital would see those responsible held to account.
But they are among campaigners angry that no one has been punished for their roles.
Cheap Van Insurance For 17,18 & 19 Year Old Drivers - Call Insure365 01782 898188, Free Legal Expenses Cover Included Valued at £25.00!
Terms: 1 Voucher Per Customer
Contact: 01782 898188
Valid until: Saturday, June 22 2013
Yesterday's Francis Report contained 290 recommendations and stated that patients suffered "appalling" conditions.
But it stopped short of naming an individual or group of individuals responsible for the short-comings.
The inquiry was carried out as in 2009 it emerged hundreds of patients could have died unnecessarily because of "shocking" levels of care in the hospital's accident and emergency department.
John Moore-Robinson, who lived in Sileby, was 20 when he died in April 2006.
He had suffered broken ribs in a mountain bike accident but his parents said his ruptured spleen was not spotted at Stafford General Hospital.
Mr Robinson, 61, who was in the House of Commons to hear Prime Minister David Cameron’s response to the report, said: “David Cameron apologised but I don’t think an apology is enough.”
Some campaigners have been calling for Sir David Nicholson,
who is now chief executive of the NHS Commissioning Board to resign as he was chief executive of the West Midland Strategic Health Authority, responsible for over-seeing the hospital at the time of the problems.
The Robinsons are unhappy that Mr Nicholson is now in the “highest possible post in the NHS.”
Mr Robinson added: “We haven’t had a chance to fully digest the Francis report at the moment, but we will.
“One of the recommendations was that there should be a legal duty of candour - a duty to be truthful to patients and the public.
“This has got to be implemented.”
Mr and Mrs Robinson, with the help of their North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen, are now campaigning to have a new inquest into John’s death.
Mr Robinson said: “We have applied to the attorney general for this and are going through all the processes at the moment.
“Mr Bridgen has been brilliant in fighting our corner but we are still travelling down the road for justice for John and there is a long way to go.”
A new chief inspector of hospitals is one of the immediate changes announced by Prime Minister David Cameron in response to the independent inquiry chaired by Robert Francis.
Other changes include proposals to suspend hospital boards for serious failures and an inquiry into hospitals with the highest mortality rates nationwide.
Mr Francis said: “The NHS can provide great care and the system and the people in it should make sure that it happens everywhere.
“The recommendations I am making represent not the end, but the beginning of a journey towards a healthier culture in the NHS where patients are the first and foremost consideration of the system and all those who work in it.”
Comments
by Graham_LE8
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 8:02PM
“Can't help but feel having heard the sentient points of the report on the news shows that there are probably a number of other trusts and health authorities' countrywide thinking "there but for the grace etc, etc"... If not all of them.
For all the hand-wringing by the politicians (of all colours), I hold them responsible for the bean-counting and micromanaging philosophy now endemic in the NHS. With healthcare false economy means people die. Budgetary prudence and fiscal control is one thing, but when cost cutting reduces front line personnel below effective levels, then one has to realise more 'progress chasers' and targets just adds to the inefficiency.
I don't suppose the carers that treated John deliberately overlooked his injuries, they were probably burdoned with excessive workloads and under duress from a management expecting exponentially productive improvements ad infinitum. They were set up to fail, by a board who wouldn't or couldn't act, and successive governments who at every election time treat the NHS as a political football...
The scary thing? - if you think it's bad now, wait until there's corner-cutting to maintain privatised shareholder profit margins.”