Health and Safety Executive v Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (2015) Stafford Crown Court, December 17
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has been fined following the deaths of four patients.
Significant points of the case
The HSE investigated the deaths of four patients between 2005 and 2014 at Cannock and Stafford hospitals. Three of the patients suffered fatal flaws and a fourth suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction after being given penicillin despite having informed the hospital o sveral occasions that she was allergic to it.
The HSE investigated the Trust in accordance with its policy to investigate deaths in the health sector where there was evidence that standards had not been met because of a systematic failure in management systems.
The Trust failed to follow a number of its own policies in relation to handing over information, completing records, carrying out falls risk assessments and the monitoring of care plans. The systems were not robust enough to ensure that they were followed consistently and correctly.
The Trust was fined ££500,000 plus £35,000 costs for a breach of section 3, HSW Act, for failing to ensure the health and safety of non-employees.
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