This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-26349205
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Stafford Hospital: Hunt to decide whether to dissolve NHS Trust | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Managers at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital are waiting to hear whether Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will dissolve the trust that runs it. | |
Administrators want Mr Hunt to scrap the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust and move services to other hospitals. | |
Local people are planning a legal challenge if that decision is taken. | Local people are planning a legal challenge if that decision is taken. |
The trust was criticised last year by a public inquiry for the "suffering of hundreds of people" under its care. It has been in administration since April. | |
The inquiry, led by Robert Francis QC, revealed some patients were left lying in their own faeces for days and given the wrong medication. | |
The report published after the inquiry made 290 recommendations aimed at tackling the wider cultural problems in the NHS. | |
In January, Monitor approved plans laid out by Trust Special Administrators (TSA) a month earlier to abolish Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust. It would be the first foundation trust to be broken up. | |
Under the proposals, control of Stafford Hospital would go to the neighbouring University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust (UHNS) while Cannock Hospital would be run by the Royal Wolverhampton Trust. | Under the proposals, control of Stafford Hospital would go to the neighbouring University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust (UHNS) while Cannock Hospital would be run by the Royal Wolverhampton Trust. |
Services, including maternity, paediatric and critical care units at Stafford, would be downgraded. | Services, including maternity, paediatric and critical care units at Stafford, would be downgraded. |
The TSA has previously said it would take three years, from the secretary of state's agreement, to implement proposed changes - at a total cost of £220m. | |
The Support Stafford Hospital group said it was planning to take legal action if the decision was taken to axe the trust. | |
It comes after the High Court overturned the health secretary's decision to downgrade Lewisham Healthcare Trust's emergency department in July. | |
"We know that surrounding trusts are struggling be it financially and/or with capacity," the group said in a blog post on Monday. | |
"These problems have to be addressed. To send more patients to these trusts will only exacerbate problems for both our community and theirs." | |
The government has made clear there will be a full parliamentary debate over the hospital "in due course". | The government has made clear there will be a full parliamentary debate over the hospital "in due course". |
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Stafford' in the subject heading and including your contact details. | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Stafford' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |