Trust’s care failings confirmed

The investigation followed the conviction in 2004 of ward sister Barbara Salisbury on two counts of attempted murder. The conviction related to incidents that occurred at Leighton Hospital in 2002 and involved the inappropriate administration of diamorphine, a powerful opiate analgesic, to patients. The aim of the investigation was to look at whether there were failings in systems to protect patients in the Trust in 2002, and to assess whether these failings were still a problem.

The investigation found that the Trust failed to meet adequate standards of care. This, together with poor leadership and management, staff shortages and a lack of learning from complaints, resulted in the safety of patients being compromised.

Patients were often not assisted to take their medication or helped with eating and drinking. The Commission found that the general lack of attention by staff sometimes prevented patients from getting to the bathroom or using the bedpan in time, adversely affecting their dignity, morale and health. Healthcare assistants reported having no time to shave patients or answer buzzers, and there were numerous examples of drug rounds being late and tablets being left on tables out of reach of patients.

Marcia Fry, head of operational development at the Healthcare Commission, said: “There is no excuse that allows for the care and dignity of patients to be compromised in this way. This report has highlighted serious problems, some of which go right up to the most senior level at the Trust. We are pleased that the Trust has already taken some urgent action to improve the service for patients. It must continue on this path and make every effort to implement all of the recommendations in this report.”