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Scandal hit Mid Staffs 'faces being dissolved' | Scandal hit Mid Staffs 'faces being dissolved' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
By James Gallagher and Nick Triggle BBC News | By James Gallagher and Nick Triggle BBC News |
The scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust faces being dissolved after regulators announced the administration process was to begin. | The scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust faces being dissolved after regulators announced the administration process was to begin. |
The trust has been at the centre of one of the worst scandals in NHS history after neglect and abuse led to hundreds of needless deaths from 2005 to 2008. | The trust has been at the centre of one of the worst scandals in NHS history after neglect and abuse led to hundreds of needless deaths from 2005 to 2008. |
Mid Staffordshire has also faced serious financial problems - it got a £20m bailout by government last year. | Mid Staffordshire has also faced serious financial problems - it got a £20m bailout by government last year. |
The regulator Monitor has now decided it should be put into administration. | The regulator Monitor has now decided it should be put into administration. |
This means an independent administrator will take over the running of the trust before coming up with proposals for the long-term. | This means an independent administrator will take over the running of the trust before coming up with proposals for the long-term. |
A range of options are available, including closing down the trust altogether. If this happens essential services would be taken on by another organisation. | A range of options are available, including closing down the trust altogether. If this happens essential services would be taken on by another organisation. |
The administrator could also recommend the trust not be scrapped although it would not exist in its current form. | The administrator could also recommend the trust not be scrapped although it would not exist in its current form. |
Monitor has decided "in principle" the process should start, although other bodies need to be consulted before the process officially starts. | Monitor has decided "in principle" the process should start, although other bodies need to be consulted before the process officially starts. |
That is only expected to take a couple of weeks. | That is only expected to take a couple of weeks. |
Not sustainable | Not sustainable |
It is the second time an NHS trust has faced such a process - earlier this year the decision to break up South London Healthcare was agreed. | It is the second time an NHS trust has faced such a process - earlier this year the decision to break up South London Healthcare was agreed. |
Mid Staffordshire looks after Stafford and Cannock Chase hospitals. | Mid Staffordshire looks after Stafford and Cannock Chase hospitals. |
It was at the Stafford site that "appalling" care led to the deaths of more than 400 patients. | It was at the Stafford site that "appalling" care led to the deaths of more than 400 patients. |
The decision to progress with administration does not mean services are dangerous. | The decision to progress with administration does not mean services are dangerous. |
Regulators have already closed down wards and operating theatres at the trust's hospitals that are not able to provide safe care. | Regulators have already closed down wards and operating theatres at the trust's hospitals that are not able to provide safe care. |
But it does mean the trust in its current form has no future. | But it does mean the trust in its current form has no future. |
In many ways this was inevitable. The trust is one of the smallest in the country. | In many ways this was inevitable. The trust is one of the smallest in the country. |
The size of its maternity and emergency services are already below what is considered appropriate in an era when care is increasingly being specialised. | The size of its maternity and emergency services are already below what is considered appropriate in an era when care is increasingly being specialised. |
Many trusts on this scale have question marks over their future. | Many trusts on this scale have question marks over their future. |
But couple that with its legacy of being at the centre of a harrowing care scandal which meant patients were refusing to be treated there and health staff opting not to work there and you have a downward spiral that it could be argued was irreversible. | But couple that with its legacy of being at the centre of a harrowing care scandal which meant patients were refusing to be treated there and health staff opting not to work there and you have a downward spiral that it could be argued was irreversible. |
There has been five major investigations into what went wrong, including the public inquiry published earlier this month which criticised the whole NHS for the handling of the problems. | There has been five major investigations into what went wrong, including the public inquiry published earlier this month which criticised the whole NHS for the handling of the problems. |
It has also been clear for some time that the trust was struggling financially. | It has also been clear for some time that the trust was struggling financially. |
A report by Monitor earlier said in order to break even there would need to be savings of 7% of its yearly budget. | A report by Monitor earlier said in order to break even there would need to be savings of 7% of its yearly budget. |
It has now concluded that the trust is neither clinically nor financially sustainable in its current form. | It has now concluded that the trust is neither clinically nor financially sustainable in its current form. |
David Bennett, the chief executive of Monitor, said: "We are now consulting on whether to appoint administrators with the expertise to reorganise services in a way which is clinically robust and sustainable. | David Bennett, the chief executive of Monitor, said: "We are now consulting on whether to appoint administrators with the expertise to reorganise services in a way which is clinically robust and sustainable. |
"Their priority will be to make sure that patients can continue to access the services that they need and they will work with the local community to do this." | "Their priority will be to make sure that patients can continue to access the services that they need and they will work with the local community to do this." |
Once the administrator is appointed they will have 150 days to come up with proposals for the future of the trust. | Once the administrator is appointed they will have 150 days to come up with proposals for the future of the trust. |
The Department of Health in England said the serious financial challenges the trust was facing was "putting at risk its work on improving services". | The Department of Health in England said the serious financial challenges the trust was facing was "putting at risk its work on improving services". |
"It is important that valued local services will last and are able to continue providing high quality treatment and advice for patients," the spokesman added. | "It is important that valued local services will last and are able to continue providing high quality treatment and advice for patients," the spokesman added. |
Professor John Caldwell, the trust's chairman, said "We have accepted for some time that the trust, working alone cannot produce a long lasting solution to the issues we face. | Professor John Caldwell, the trust's chairman, said "We have accepted for some time that the trust, working alone cannot produce a long lasting solution to the issues we face. |
"We will continue to work with our regulators and commissioners to deliver the services they require to our local community." | "We will continue to work with our regulators and commissioners to deliver the services they require to our local community." |
Julie Bailey, founder of the campaign group Cure the NHS, which brought the failings at the hospital to national attention, said: "We are obviously distressed. But this was inevitable really." | Julie Bailey, founder of the campaign group Cure the NHS, which brought the failings at the hospital to national attention, said: "We are obviously distressed. But this was inevitable really." |
The news of the administration came on the day the families of victims of the Stafford Hospital scandal protested outside the NHS Commissioning Board HQ in Manchester. | |
About a dozen people held placards calling for the resignation of NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson. | |
Sir David was head of the regional authority which oversaw the hospital for some of the period when the poor care took place. | |
During a meeting of the board chairman Prof Malcolm Grant publicly backed Sir David. | |
Next week the NHS boss is due to be quizzed by MPs on the health select committee. |