NHS Trust fined £200,000 for basic failings in patient death

The trust which runs Stafford hospital have released a statement following the £200,000 fine they were issued for the failures in care which led to the death of a diabetic patient.

Gillian Astbury died in 2007 after nurses failed to give her insulin.

Jeff Crawshaw, Deputy Chief Executive of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation said:

Read: Mid Staffs Trust fined £200,000 over death of diabetic patient

Among the aggravating features of the case identified was the fact that the errors occurred amid a "general malaise" in standards and priorities at Stafford Hospital between 2004-2007, a judge has said.

"The underlying causes of the breaches and the malaise were fundamental organisational and managerial failures, which can be traced to the very top of the organisation." Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said.

More: NHS Trust fined £200,000 for basic failings in patient death

A judge sitting at Stafford Crown Court said the death of Gillian Astbury, who was not given insulin despite being diabetic, had been caused by an "effectively broken" system for hand-overs between staff and poor record-keeping.

Passing sentence on the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, High Court judge Mr Justice Haddon-Cave described the 66-year-old's death as tragic and wholly avoidable.

More: NHS Trust running Stafford Hospital fined £200,000

An NHS Trust in charge of Stafford Hospital has been fined £200,000 at Stafford Crown Court for failings in care which caused the death of a diabetic patient in 2007.