Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Encyclopedia
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large NHS Trust
in the British National Health Service
that manages hospitals in the Maidstone
and Tunbridge Wells region in Kent
.
It was heavily criticized in 2007 by the Healthcare Commission
regarding its handling of a major outbreak of Clostridium difficile
in its hospitals from April 2004 to September 2006. In its report, the Commission estimated that about 90 patients "definitely or probably" died as a result of the infection.
The Secretary of State for Health
, Alan Johnson
, described the 90 patients' deaths as "scandalous".
In a subsequent investigation by the Healthcare Commission
the outbreak was connected to the financial reorganisations that the hospital trust was undergoing, such as its private finance initiative
. In this regard, Richard James, Professor of Microbiology
at Nottingham University noted striking parallels with Stoke Mandeville
hospital, which experienced a severe C. difficile
outbreak in 2003-5.
News reports:
NHS Trust
A National Health Service trust provides services on behalf of the National Health Service in England and NHS Wales.The trusts are not trusts in the legal sense but are in effect public sector corporations. Each trust is headed by a board consisting of executive and non-executive directors, and is...
in the British National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
that manages hospitals in the Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
and Tunbridge Wells region in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
It was heavily criticized in 2007 by the Healthcare Commission
Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission was a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health of the United Kingdom. It was set up to promote and drive improvement in the quality of health care and public health in England and Wales...
regarding its handling of a major outbreak of Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile , also known as "CDF/cdf", or "C...
in its hospitals from April 2004 to September 2006. In its report, the Commission estimated that about 90 patients "definitely or probably" died as a result of the infection.
The Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Health is a UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health.The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November, and 21 November 1831. In 1848 a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and...
, Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson
Alan Arthur Johnson is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that, he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was...
, described the 90 patients' deaths as "scandalous".
In a subsequent investigation by the Healthcare Commission
Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission was a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health of the United Kingdom. It was set up to promote and drive improvement in the quality of health care and public health in England and Wales...
the outbreak was connected to the financial reorganisations that the hospital trust was undergoing, such as its private finance initiative
Private Finance Initiative
The private finance initiative is a way of creating "public–private partnerships" by funding public infrastructure projects with private capital...
. In this regard, Richard James, Professor of Microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
at Nottingham University noted striking parallels with Stoke Mandeville
Stoke Mandeville
Stoke Mandeville is a village and also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district to the south-east of Aylesbury in the county of Buckinghamshire, England. Although a separate civil parish, the village falls within the Aylesbury Urban Area...
hospital, which experienced a severe C. difficile
Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile , also known as "CDF/cdf", or "C...
outbreak in 2003-5.
External links
Healthcare Commission report:- Healthcare Commission press release: Healthcare watchdog finds significant failings in infection control at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, 11 October 2007
- Healthcare Commission, Investigation into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, October 2007
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Official Web Site
News reports:
- Times Online, Superbug hospital may face criminal charges, 11 October 2007
- Daily Telegraph, Health Secretary intervenes in superbug row, 11 October 2007
- Channel 4 News, Hospital bug 'caused 90 deaths', 11 October 2007