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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to prosecute Mid Staffordshire NHS foundation trust over the death of a patient, according to a report in the Guardian.
In the first criminal prosecution of the heavily criticised NHS trust, the safety watchdog confirmed it will take action over Gillian Astbury, a diabetic, who was admitted to Stafford hospital after a fall in 2007 and later died after she was not given insulin.
Peter Galsworthy, HSE head of operations in the West Midlands, said: “We have concluded our investigation into the death of Gillian Astbury at Stafford hospital and have decided there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to bring criminal proceedings in this case.”
“HSE will be charging Mid Staffordshire NHS foundation trust under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
“Gillian Astbury died on 11 April 2007, of diabetic ketoacidosis, when she was an in-patient at the hospital. The immediate cause of death was the failure to administer insulin to a known diabetic patient.
“Our case alleges that the trust failed to devise, implement or properly manage structured and effective systems of communication for sharing patient information, including in relation to shift handovers and record-keeping.”
Mid Staffordshire NHS foundation trust is due to appear before Stafford magistrates court on 9 October 2013 for the first hearing in this case.
Photograph: Anthony Collins Solicitors/PA