Essex hospital fined £350,000

A hospital has been forced to pay almost £400,000 for failings that led to patients contracting legionnaires' disease. Two men died, and 6 other patients were infected, during the outbreak at Basildon Hospital.

A judge today fined the hospital trust and blamed managers for putting the public at risk. Serena Sandhu reports.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been ordered to pay fines and costs of £350,000 for failing to ensure the safety of its patients.

Basildon Hospital admitted failing to protect patients and visitors between 2006 and 2007. 74-year-old James Compton and 54-year-old Raymond Cackett died after contracting Legionnaires' disease. Six others were infected by the chronic legionella outbreak.

• 74-year-old James Compton, from Billericay, died in 2007 after contracting Legionnaires' disease at Basildon Hospital
• 54-year-old Raymond Cackett, from South Ockendon, also died in 2010
• Six other patients were infected at the Essex hospital

An Essex hospital which failed patients in a chronic legionella infestation is due to discover the size of the fine it will face.

Basildon hospital admitted failings under the Health and Safety at Work Act and bosses will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing. Judge David Turner heard the details of the case yesterday and is expected to deliver his final sentencing, likely to be a hefty fine.

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.

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.

The court heard the hospital cut spending on chemical treatment of the water system in 2006 in an "inappropriate cost-saving measure".

Bosses arrived at Chelmsford Crown Court today for sentencing but the judge decided to defer sentencing until tomorrow so he could deal with a second case against the trust at the same time.

The trust apologised and said significant improvements had now been made.

• Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Foundation Trust was accused of making inappropriate cost-cutting measures in chemically treating water systems
• The trust was warned it could face fines of up to £100,000

An Essex hospital trust is due to be sentenced this week for health and safety breaches which led to the deaths of two people from Legionnaires' disease.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Foundation Trust admitted a series of failures at a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in January.