Trust admits failings over death

Ron Street, a friend of Gillian Astbury's, has said: "Today’s acknowledgement of guilt by the Trust does little by way of justice against those individuals who permitted such unsafe practices for so long".

"Senior members of the [Mid Staffordshire NHS] Trust Board, who were responsible for implementing this system of unsafe work at the hospital whilst Gillian was in their care, have never been held to account"

The Health and Safety Executive has said "Her [Gillian Astbury's] death was entirely preventable. She did not get the insulin she needed to control her diabetes."

Read: Mid Staffs Trust pleads guilty to safety breaches

The case of Gillian Astbury has been sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust earlier pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety connected to the death of the diabetic patient in 2007.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, who pleaded guilty to safety breaches connected to the death of diabetic patient Gillian Astbury, said her case was "exceptional" and many of the details are "unique".

A statement said they were "very sorry for the loss and the pain and distress it caused" to the family and friends of Mrs Astbury.

"Any penalty in this case is not going to touch on the people responsible" as they have all left Mid Staffs, the NHS Trust said.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has pleaded guilty at Stafford Magistrates' Court today to safety breaches connected to the death of diabetic patient Gillian Astbury.

Mrs Astbury, 66, died in April 2007 after she was not given insulin while an in-patient at Stafford Hospital.

The Trust pleaded guilty through its barrister to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to properly manage and organise hospital services, including its systems for record-keeping, patient information and communication between staff members.

A scandal-hit NHS trust will appear in court today charged with safety breaches connected to the death of a diabetic patient.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust is being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over the death of Gillian Astbury.

Mrs Astbury died on April 11, 2007 - at the age of 66 - after she was not given insulin while an in-patient at Stafford Hospital.

The HSE announced in August that criminal proceedings were being launched against the Mid Staffordshire trust, which went into administration in April.

The trust is alleged to have breached its duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to devise, implement or properly manage structured and effective systems of communication for sharing patient information.

The first hearing in the case will be held at Stafford Magistrates' Court.