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Inquiry into Liverpool Community Health failures expected Inquiry into Liverpool Community Health failures expected
(about 7 hours later)
An independent inquiry into a failed NHS trust is expected to be announced later - amid concerns that 150 deaths were not properly investigated.An independent inquiry into a failed NHS trust is expected to be announced later - amid concerns that 150 deaths were not properly investigated.
Liverpool Community Health (LCH), formed in 2010, ran services for about 750,000 people on Merseyside until 2018.Liverpool Community Health (LCH), formed in 2010, ran services for about 750,000 people on Merseyside until 2018.
A review last year found it was "dysfunctional from the outset" and patients suffered "unnecessary harm".A review last year found it was "dysfunctional from the outset" and patients suffered "unnecessary harm".
The trust has previously apologised to patients, families and staff.The trust has previously apologised to patients, families and staff.
LCH provided services such as district nursing, dentistry and diabetes care.LCH provided services such as district nursing, dentistry and diabetes care.
It quickly embarked on a major cost-cutting programme after its formation, slashing budgets and staffing in a failed effort to become a foundation trust.It quickly embarked on a major cost-cutting programme after its formation, slashing budgets and staffing in a failed effort to become a foundation trust.
Previous reports found evidence of a bullying culture and said that patient safety was put at risk as a result of under-spending.Previous reports found evidence of a bullying culture and said that patient safety was put at risk as a result of under-spending.
It is understood further analysis has raised serious new concerns, including claims that at least 150 deaths were never properly investigated. Prison
It is understood further analysis has raised serious new concerns, including claims that at least 150 deaths were not properly investigated.
These deaths occurred mainly in the community but around 20 were at Liverpool Prison, where LCH ran healthcare services between 2011 and 2015.
A further 43,000 incidents cannot currently be categorised due to what has been described as "a complete failure of management systems".A further 43,000 incidents cannot currently be categorised due to what has been described as "a complete failure of management systems".
These relate to everything from pressure sores to deaths.
Each incident should have been categorised according to a nationally recognised system of harm but this did not happen, meaning there was missed opportunities to learn lessons.
The Department of Health is expected to confirm it has ordered an independent inquiry into the extent of the failures.The Department of Health is expected to confirm it has ordered an independent inquiry into the extent of the failures.
'Limbo'
Bill Kirkup, who led the 2018 investigation into the trust as well as a review into the Morecambe Bay scandal at Furness General Hospital, is expected to chair the new inquiry.Bill Kirkup, who led the 2018 investigation into the trust as well as a review into the Morecambe Bay scandal at Furness General Hospital, is expected to chair the new inquiry.
Previous investigations into the the trust have found:Previous investigations into the the trust have found:
Four former members of LCH staff are due to face fitness to practice hearings at the Nursing and Midwifery Council later this month. Four former members of LCH staff are facing fitness to practice hearings at the Nursing and Midwifery Council. They began in May and are due to last 14 weeks.
They include former director of nursing Helen Lockett, who was suspended in 2016.They include former director of nursing Helen Lockett, who was suspended in 2016.
LCH no longer exists, with most of its services now run by Merseycare, another NHS trust.LCH no longer exists, with most of its services now run by Merseycare, another NHS trust.
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