Health

Monica Azzad
February 8, 2013
Article (Health)

Five hospitals in the UK under investigation

Hospitals are usually seen as places where people trust their medics to help their loved ones get better in their condition and hope for the best. Well, five different hospitals are under investigation when evidence of negligence has led to a massive amount of unnecessary death between 2005 and 2008. The hospitals under investigation are: Colchester Hospital , Tameside Hospital, Blackpool Teaching Hospital, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals, and East Lancashire Hospital.
What caught the attention of some officials was when they looked at the number of people that didn’t have a high chance of surviving and the ages and illnesses of those patients. These high death rates were what caused these places to undergo investigation and this is the same thing that happened back when Staffordshire Hospital had to be investigated for the same reason.
The people who run these hospitals have already been notified and are also being closely monitored. The investigation will begin with the hospital with the highest death rate and make sure that enough immediate action is being carried out to solve the problem. A local professor has even said, “This clinically led and practical investigation will allow me to assure myself, Parliament and patients that these hospitals have everything they need to improve.”
This investigation and the change that it will bring will hopefully help the public to still trust in the health service that is provided for them. this will also ensure that the staff of the hospitals be completely open and honest about their mistakes or anything that has been going on with the patients under their care. Another thing that will happen because of this will be to hold managers under a code of conduct and if they do not hold up to their expectations then they will be removed from their position.
Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, has said, “I think it’s perfectly understandable, I understand the anger that they feel, the upset that they feel about the treatment of their loved ones in Mid-Staffordshire hospital.
“I absolutely understand all of that. At the time I apologised and in a sense I apologise again to the people of Stafford for what happened, but apologies are not enough.
“We need action, we need to make things happen.”
And he is right, change needs to happen, and they have to make sure action is taken.

“NHS’s Darkest Day: Five More Hospitals under Investigation for Neglect as Report Blames ‘failings at Every Level’ for 1,200 Deaths at Stafford Hospital.” The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2013. .

Triggle, James Gallagher & Nick. “Stafford Hospital: Five More Hospital Trusts to Be Investigated.” BBC News. BBC, 02 Feb. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. .