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Mid Staffs NHS trust to be dissolved, Jeremy Hunt announces Mid Staffs NHS trust to be dissolved, Jeremy Hunt announces
(about 2 hours later)
The hospital involved in the worst NHS care scandal in years is to lose specialist services and come under the control of new management, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has announced.The hospital involved in the worst NHS care scandal in years is to lose specialist services and come under the control of new management, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has announced.
Stafford hospital will see downgrades of its paediatric and critical care services in the shake-up proposed by special administrators at Mid Staffordshire NHS foundation trust and backed by regulator Monitor. Stafford hospital will see downgrades of its paediatric and critical care services in the shake-up proposed by special administrators at Mid Staffordshire NHS foundation trust, and backed by regulator Monitor.
But Hunt is asking NHS England to consider whether a consultant-led obstetrics unit, which was due to be downgraded to a midwife-led unit, could be kept at Stafford after all. . But Hunt is asking NHS England to consider whether a consultant-led obstetrics unit, which was due to be downgraded to a midwife-led unit, could be kept at Stafford.
The trust will be dissolved, with Stafford coming under the University Hospital of North Staffordshire trust, and its sister hospital in Cannock Chase becoming part of the Royal Wolverhampton hospitals trust.The trust will be dissolved, with Stafford coming under the University Hospital of North Staffordshire trust, and its sister hospital in Cannock Chase becoming part of the Royal Wolverhampton hospitals trust.
But Support Stafford Hospital campaigners want to keep more important services, saying patients may have to travel up to 18 miles on a poor network of roads for acute services. But Support Stafford Hospital campaigners want to keep more important services, arguing patients may have to travel up to 18 miles on a poor network of roads for acute services.
They are particularly worried patients will be reluctant to use a downgraded obstetrics and maternity unit.They are particularly worried patients will be reluctant to use a downgraded obstetrics and maternity unit.
Hunt said in a written ministerial statement to the Commons that although great strides forward had been made in improvements at Stafford, the challenges remained stark. Hunt said in a written ministerial statement to the Commons that although great strides had been made in improvements at Stafford, the challenges remained stark.
"Without over £20m in subsidy funding from the Department of Health in 2012 and 2013, the trust would have been unable to pay its staff and suppliers. At the same time, a number of services are being operated with a consultant numbers below royal college guidelines, and the trust has experienced ongoing challenges in recruiting an retaining staff. Patients deserve high-quality services which are clinically sustainable." "Without over £20m in subsidy funding from the Department of Health in 2012 and 2013, the trust would have been unable to pay its staff and suppliers. At the same time, a number of services are being operated with consultant numbers below Royal College guidelines, and the trust has experienced ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. Patients deserve high-quality services which are clinically sustainable."
Hunt also said that 90% of patient visits would continue to take place at Stafford and Cannock hospitals, and there would be improvements to some current services such as specialist support for elderly and frail patients. "All of this will contribute to a much improved offer for local people." Hunt also said 90% of patient visits would continue to take place at Stafford and Cannock hospitals, promising improvements would be made to some services such as specialist support for elderly and frail patients. He said: "All of this will contribute to a much improved offer for local people."
An inquiry by Robert Francis QC into the unnecessary suffering of hundreds of people at Stafford has led to Hunt promising widespread reforms across the NHS in England including possible financial penalties for hospitals if they cover up mistakes. Hunt added: "Local people suffered too much for too long under a system which ignored appalling failures of care in their local hospital. They now deserve to know that same system has learned the lessons and is guaranteeing high-quality, safe services for local people."
The plans, which will take up to three years to implement, mean Stafford keeps its current limited-hours A&E department but loses in-patient paediatrics.
In December, trust special administrators said the overall trust was "financially and clinically unviable" and that without changes Mid Staffordshire would face annual debts of more than £40m by 2017.
Sue Hawkins, of Support Stafford Hospital, described the obstetrics review as "a start" but called for a review of paediatrics as well. She refused to rule out court action, but warned such a move might "increase the period of uncertainty".
She added: "The hospital has already come to its knees because of that uncertainty. After two and a bit years of protest, that has led to staff jumping ship and you can understand that."
Philip Atkins, leader of Staffordshire county council, said: "There are still significant concerns over the financial fragility of the whole Staffordshire health economy and the wider impact this decision will have, especially as only last week Staffordshire was identified as one of 11 financially challenged health economies."
Christina McAnea, head of health for Unison, said: "It is bitterly disappointing for the local community who have campaigned for local services and have rallied behind the hospital, as well as for staff who have worked hard to turn the trust around.
"The facts show that patient care has improved massively and the staff survey showed that 73% would now be happy with the standard of care at the hospital if a friend or relative needed treatment – higher than the 65% national average.
"If key services are to be transferred to neighbouring trusts, it is vital that they are given the financial resources needed to take on the extra responsibility. It is also crucial that robust clinical assessments have been made to ensure that the people of Mid Staffs are able to access safe, appropriate healthcare when they need it."
An inquiry by Robert Francis QC into the unnecessary suffering of hundreds of people at Stafford last year led to Hunt promising widespread reforms across the NHS in England, including possible financial penalties for hospitals if they cover up mistakes.