Now the Hospital needs our support

STAFFORD HOSPITAL GIVES US CARE AND TREATMENT,

NOW IT’S OUR TURN TO HELP THE HOSPITAL AND ITS STAFF

Stafford hospital’s Chief Executive has stepped down and the Chair of the Board of Governors has resigned. There is widespread news coverage of what is expected to be a highly critical report from the Healthcare Commission. Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney says what local people have always wanted, and will continue to expect is a good local hospital providing quality care and treatment for us and our families when we need it.

Detailed Background information on the Healthcare Commission report

BBC Coverage

“If the regulator’s report does reveal serious failings, we have got to face up to them and take all the action necessary to put things right for all future patients. With a brand new leadership team, the hospital is going to need as much support as we can give.

“The Healthcare Commission has been conducting a thorough investigation, looking at two separate issues: The Dr. Foster publication of patient death rates two years ago suggesting that Stafford’s rate was way above average and a series of complaints from local people about poor quality care.

During its investigation the Commission also published an interim report about inadequate staffing in the hospital’s A&E Department. The hospital was required to take immediate action to recruit more doctors to work there.

“In the time the Commission has been carrying out its investigation, the hospital trust has recruited the extra doctors for A&E as directed by the Healthcare Commission, it has also recruited 9 more matrons to make a total of 12 and a 100 more nurses. These actions give me hope that the hospital will do what it takes to put right any failings that the regulator’s report may disclose.

The report is due out on 17th March, and once it is available I hope to be able to provide a link to it from this site, so that we can all have the benefit of learning from the findings and recommendations.

“Whatever the final outcome of the report, we need all people of goodwill to encourage and support the hospital and its staff. We want the hospital to have the right systems in place and the staff to have the skills and the confidence to ensure that Stafford hospital provides that good quality care we all want every day for every patient.”

If you have views about how we can support the hospital at this time I would encourage you to Contact me.

05 March 2009