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Stafford hospital admits death of Gillian Astbury Stafford Hospital trust guilty over Gillian Astbury insulin death
(about 3 hours later)
The Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust has pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches over the death of a diabetic patient who was not given insulin. The Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust is facing a large fine after it pleaded guilty to safety breaches over the death of a diabetic patient.
Gillian Astbury, 66, died at Stafford Hospital in April 2007 after two nurses failed to give her treatment. Gillian Astbury, 66, died at Stafford Hospital in April 2007 after two nurses failed to give her insulin.
Ann King was struck off and Jeannette Coulson was cautioned after a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel found them guilty of misconduct in July.Ann King was struck off and Jeannette Coulson was cautioned after a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel found them guilty of misconduct in July.
The trust has previously apologised for "appalling care" given to Mrs Astbury. The trust will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court at a later date.
It pleaded guilty at Stafford Magistrates' Court to failing to properly manage and organise hospital services including its systems for record-keeping and patient information between staff members. It had pleaded guilty at Stafford Magistrates' Court to failing to properly manage and organise hospital services including its systems for record keeping and sharing patient information between staff members.
Gross failure Magistrates ruled their sentencing powers for the offence were insufficient because they could only impose a maximum fine of £20,000.
BBC reporter Phil Mackie said magistrates were hearing submissions on whether the trust should be sentenced at Crown Court. They decided the trust should be sentenced at the crown court, where it will now face an unlimited fine.
The maximum fine magistrates can impose is £20,000 but a Crown Court judge can impose a much greater fine, he said. Death 'entirely preventable'
The criminal prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive three years after an inquest jury ruled that Mrs Astbury's death was caused by low staffing levels and a failure to provide adequate nursing facilities. Ms Astbury, from Hednesford, Staffordshire, died after going into a diabetic coma on 11 April 2007 while being treated for fractures to her arm and pelvis.
The criminal prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) three years after an inquest jury ruled that Ms Astbury's death was caused by low staffing levels and a failure to provide adequate nursing facilities.
The inquest also found that the failure by nurses to administer insulin amounted to a gross failure to provide basic care.The inquest also found that the failure by nurses to administer insulin amounted to a gross failure to provide basic care.
Mrs Astbury, from Hednesford, Staffordshire, died after going into a fatal diabetic coma on 11 April 2007 while being treated for fractures to her arm and pelvis. Peter Galsworthy, from the HSE, said Ms Astbury's death was "entirely preventable".
He said: "The trust's failure to implement a robust and consistent process cost the life of a vulnerable patient in the trust's care....and it will now be for a crown court judge to determine sentence."
The Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust said it "fully accepted the decision" to refer the case to the crown court.
Chief Executive Maggie Oldham said: "Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Gillian Astbury and we apologise for the dreadful care Ms Astbury received at Stafford Hospital in April 2007.
"Although of little consolation to Ms Astbury's family, we can assure them we have done everything we can to put those things right which went so very wrong in 2007 and that the standard of care now provided at the hospital has improved considerably over the last few years."