NHS Sorry For Dead Patient Letter 29/8/09

posted on 16 September 2009 | posted in Media Coverage/T.Milner

Read here - BBC News Article about how the NHS wrote to a Deceased Man - 29/8/09

OUR COMMENTS: Can we state clearly that although Dr. Throssell is saying that Thomas Milner had indicated that he did not have a pain and that is why NO FURTHER MEDICATION WAS REQUIRED (Re: Our Complaint about the refusal to give terminal pain and anxiety control medication 10/1/06 - Tom's penultimate day).
MEDICAL NOTES 9/1/06 - 'TOM TOO ILL TO HAVE DISCUSSION WITH STAFF' AS WELL AS NOTING HE WAS IN PAIN.
MEDICAL NOTES 10/1/06 - TOM PROBABLY UNAWARE OF HIS SURROUNDINGS
................

BBC NEWS 29/8/09
NHS sorry for dead patient letter - Transcript

Mr Milner died at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital
The NHS has apologised after writing to a man to address concerns over his treatment - three-and-half years after he died.

Tom Milner's daughter emailed the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) after her 76-year-old father died at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital.

Janet Brooks said when she received a response, it was entitled "Dear Tom".

The agency said it had reviewed its systems to ensure the error did not happen again.

Mr Milner, who had terminal leukaemia, was not given his prescribed pain-relieving morphine in the last two days of his life, his family say.

It's an example of the careless and shambolic attitude by the NHS towards my father and our family

They claim he was left in agony and lay in his own urine and blood at the NHS palliative care ward at the hospital.

The health trust responsible for his care said staff had "acted appropriately".

Mrs Brooks, 54, of Emsworth, Hampshire, said she had outlined her concerns about her father's treatment in an email to the NPSA.

"They responded with 'Dear Tom'.

"It's an example of the careless and shambolic attitude by the NHS towards my father and our family."

Systems review

A spokesman for the National Patient Safety Agency said: "The NPSA is aware that an error was made when responding to an email enquiry from the relative of a deceased patient.

"As soon as this was identified, we contacted the person involved and apologised for any distress caused.

"The NPSA has also since reviewed its systems to look at how it can ensure this does not happen again."

Dr David Throssell, deputy medical director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The Healthcare Commission found that staff acted appropriately.

"Mr Milner indicated he was not in pain and therefore the doctor agreed with the nurse that further medication was not required."

Martin Fletcher, Chief Executive, National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)

National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)

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