Patient group in deaths challenge

Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 05 July 2010

3,000 too many have died in hospitals, campaigners claim

A PATIENT-care action group is coming into the region to tackle hospital chiefs over concerns that poor care is contributing to high rates of unexpected deaths.

Cure the NHS claims more than 3,000 people have died than expected at Pennine Acute Trust, which runs four hospitals including the Royal Oldham, over an 11-year period.

It has formed a North-West branch to highlight alleged failings after successfully forcing a full public inquiry into Stafford Hospital, where unexpected death rates were a third lower than Pennine Acute.

At Stafford, the Healthcare Commission found that up to 1,200 people died than would have been expected.

Some patients were so thirsty they were drinking water from flower vases.

Earlier this year, Pennine Acute was one of 25 NHS Trusts that leading health expert Professor Sir Brian Jarman, from Imperial College, warned the Government should be investigated.

His figures show that approximately 3,107 more people died than would have been expected at their hospitals between 1996/7 and 2007/8.

Cure the NHS says Pennine Acute recently published data using a different method that estimates 33 per cent more people died than would have been expected in 2007 in their hospitals.

And in April its traffic light system to monitor performance and safety had gone from green to amber or red on every site.

The campaigners say they aim to expose failings at Pennine Acute and ensure standards are improved.

Founder Julie Bailey said: “We are aware that what happened at Stafford is the tip of the iceberg.”

The group is involved in a three-day inquest starting in Bury tomorrow into the death Lucy Watkin (77), who died in hospital five years ago weighing less than six stone.

Her family will allege gross failures, including misdiagnosis, ageism and starvation, at both Fairfield General and Ramsbottom Cottage Hospipitals. The coroner has been

The coroner has been asked by their legal representatives to consider calling Professor Jarmen to give evidence because the high mortality rates at Pennine Acute are considered highly relevant.

Two recent inquests reported in the Chronicle saw relatives raise serious concerns over the Royal Oldham.

Jean Garside (77), who had dementia, was moved to a discharge lounge in the middle of the night because of a bed shortage and left there for 24 hours.

Her family have questioned how she went from being supposedly fit enough to leave hospital to suffering kidney failure and falling into a diabetic coma within 24 hours. They have lodged a formal complaint with the Trust.

A similar inquest resulted in the family of Shirley Finan (71) considering taking action over neglect. The grandmother died from multi-organ failure resulting from a C diff infection and a senior doctor admitted failings.

However, in both inquests the coroner ruled the failings had no bearing on the deaths.

Celia Watson, from Cure the NHS, said the group is branching out across the country. She added: “It’s quite a movement. People are crying out for help unfortunately. We are trying to bring everyone together who has suffered in this way to make our voices louder. It’s not just a campaign group but a support group as well.

“We want to make sure that patient safety and care are the highest priorities. We want anyone with a problem with Pennine Acute to get in touch.”

She can be contacted on 07886 571661 or celia.watson<\@googlemail.com.

The Trust did not respond to requests to comment. It has previously stated that Professor Jarmen’s data is two years old and mortality rates have fallen year on year.