Health Secretary to Dissolve Mid Staffordshire Hospital Trust

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has agreed plans to dissolve Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

The hospital was recently at the centre of a care-standards scandal that involved between 400 and 1,200 more deaths than was reasonably expected in the time-frame.

Appalling Care

An investigation by the Healthcare Commission revealed that the families of patients reported appalling standards in health care.

Discussion focused on the tick-box culture that appeared to be prevalent at the Foundation Trust, with managers placing a greater importance on achieving targets than on patient care.

Administration

Health watchdog Monitor announced that the service was “unsustainable”, and in April 2013 the hospital went into administration – without changes, annual debts of around £40m were predicted by 2017.

The Future

Support Stafford Hospital (SSH) was originally opposed to the plans put forward by Mr Hunt, but now accepts that the Trust should be dissolved.

Mr Hunt is currently reviewing plans to retain maternity services at Mid Staffordshire Hospital.

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