Multiple medical errors at the Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust

Both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary have come under fire recently due to multiple failings found within the Trusts.

One such incident was a clear and serious error when staff at Calderdale Hospital undertook an intimate examination of the wrong patient between July and September 2016.

We all know the NHS has a tough job in tough conditions, but there are some things that are clearly preventable.

Report

The “Learning the Lessons” report notes that the “incorrectly identified patient was asked and gave permission for an examination by a doctor who was conducted with patient consent and in the presence of a nurse chaperone”. Although the gynaecology examination was undertaken on the wrong patient, the hospital adhered to NHS policy by providing a chaperone. This makes sure that a professional doctor-patient boundary is always maintained.

The report notes that healthcare providers ‘must complete thorough patient identification checks’ before taking any procedure. It’s clear that the hospital breached this duty when they underwent an intimate gynaecology examination on the wrong patient.

Whatever way you look at this case, what’s clear is that this kind of simple error could lead to something much worse – like the wrong patient being operated on unnecessarily, for example.

Multiple failings within the trust

As noted above, this wasn’t the only failing from the Trust in question. They were also criticised after doctors failed to prescribe medication to a patient with a heart condition. According to the Daily Examiner, there was ‘poor communication’ between NHS staff in relation to the care provided for this patient. What is possibly even more surprising is the fact that the patient’s medical history was available, meaning doctors should’ve known what medication to provide.

The failings also note that another patient slipped and broke two bones in his skull while under the care of NHS staff. The report details that the patient was trying to pass urine but slipped on a wet floor, causing severe injuries to his head. The report notes that the NHS Trust failed to have an adequate ‘fall care plan’ in place.

NHS failings

The Francis Inquiry Report, published in 2013, examined the failings in care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust from 2005-09. The report made recommendation including:

There is an argument to say that The Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trusts should be subject to the same investigations as Mid Staffordshire Hospital. The NHS is a healthcare system which is available to all, and one of their core principles is to meet the needs of everyone. This doesn’t mean that quality should decrease, yet, that seems to be the case at Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust.

Apology

In response, the Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust apologised for its errors. The Director of nursing, Brendan Brown, said:

“…in all of these cases we would offer an apology to the patients and their families involved as we failed to deliver the care, communication and attention they should have expected.”

Mr Brown gave his assurance that, where care isn’t of an expected standard, there will be investigations and patients will be fully informed.