Mid-Staffs to face charges over four deaths

An NHS campaigner behind the group that exposed poor standards at Stafford Hospital says she is 'delighted' by the decision to bring criminal charges against Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust over the deaths of four elderly patients.

Julie Bailey founded the campaign group Cure The NHS after being appalled by the care she witnessed her mother receive at the hospital.

The charges, brought by the Health and Safety Executive, relate to alleged health and safety breaches in relation to the deaths of the elderly patients between October 2005 and May 2014.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust - which ran the former Stafford Hospital - is to face criminal charges over the deaths of four patients, with one as recent as last year.

The charges, brought by the Health and Safety Executive, relate to alleged health and safety breaches in relation to the deaths of the elderly patients between October 2005 and May 2014.

The trust was embroiled in one of the biggest scandals in the history of the NHS when it emerged that thousands of patients had died unnecessarily at the former Stafford Hospital, which is know called County Hospital.

The trust is due to appear before Stafford Magistrates on 4 November, with the charges relating to the deaths of:

• Patrick Daly, 89, who died on 13 May 2014;
• Edith Bourne, 83, who died on 22 July 2013;
• Ivy Bunn, 90, who died on 6 November 2008, and;
• Lillian Tucker, 77, who died on 21 October 2005