Hospital trust apologises for health and safety breaches

The sentencing of an Essex hospital trust over health and safety breaches has been deferred until tomorrow.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Trust had previously pleaded guilty to failing to protect patients from the potentially-fatal effects of Legionnaires' disease.

Two patients at Basildon Hospital were infected and died in 2007 and 2010 and another eight people contracted the disease between 2004 and 2010.

Today, hospital bosses arrived at court ready for the sentencing.

The judge decided to defer his judgement so he could deal with a second case against the trust at the same time.

Serena Sadhu was at Chelmsford Crown Court.