The avoidable death of a young person in its care is just the latest disaster for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates Court to failing to provide safe care and treatment to a young person, exposing them to a significant risk of avoidable harm in a prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
CQC brought a prosecution in relation to the care and treatment of a child, who was being cared for on Bluefin Ward, an acute children’s inpatient ward at Worthing Hospital. On 20 March 2022, while under 1:1 supervision, she absconded from the ward. She was later found within the hospital grounds having ligatured and died shortly afterwards.
“The trust was aware of [the patient’s] history of absconding, yet failed to manage this known risk adequately, which might have avoided this tragic outcome,” said Helen Rawlings, CQC director of operations in the south.
“The prosecution should remind all health and social care organisations of their duty to provide care that meets people’s needs and reduces the risks to their safety based on their individual circumstances.”
Sentencing will take place at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 26 November.
Deep-rooted problems
This is merely the latest in a series of what TMLEP’s lead healthcare investigator Nina Vegad has called “deep-rooted, systemic governance malfunctions” at the Trust.
The number of deaths and injuries under police investigation at the Trust has more than doubled, now encompassing more than 200 cases across various departments.
These cases, which include allegations of avoidable deaths, poor treatment, and whistleblower suppression, point to something far more serious than isolated clinical errors. They suggest deep-rooted, systemic governance malfunctions, malfunctions that may have been preventable had concerns been listened to and investigated earlier, she writes.
It is also one of the 14 Trusts to be looked at as part of a rapid, independent, national investigation into maternity and neonatal services.
“Our aims are to ensure the lived experiences of affected families are fully heard, to conduct and publish 14 local investigations of maternity and neonatal services, and to develop recommendations informed by these that will drive improvements across maternity and neonatal services nationwide,” said Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos, who is heading the investigation.
The chaos at the Trust has already claimed the scalp of chief executive George Findlay, who stepped down in early July, although there is no suggestion that Finlay’s departure is linked to the police investigation.
