Hospital under investigation (From Warrington Guardian)

Hospital under investigation

JAILED nurse Barbara Salisbury's attempts to kill two patients at Leighton Hospital has sparked an investigation into the care of elderly patients at the trust.

The probe by the Healthcare Commission will look at the practices that were in place during 1999 and 2002 when Salisbury tried to murder two elderly patients on general medical ward four.

Salisbury, formerly of Shavington, was jailed for five years for trying to kill her victims by injecting them with lethal doses of the painkiller diamorphine in a ruthless effeciency drive to free up beds.

The inquiry will also establish whether the trust now has adequate arrangements in place to protect patients.

The commission is asking elderly patients, friends, relatives, staff, and community or voluntary organisations to comment on their experiences of services at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The inquest will begin with the collection and analysis of relevant information before individual and small group meetings are held to collect personal accounts.

Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker said: "We aim to focus on patients in everything we do.

"That is why an important part of this investigation is to ask patients and relatives about their experiences.

"We appreciate that people may have concerns following the conviction of a nurse.

"Our aim is to find out what went wrong, what systems the trust has in place to ensure this does not happen again, and how we can help them to make further improvements to protect the safety of patients.

"The views of patients and local people are crucial to this."

Barbara Pennington, director of nursing at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "It is hugely important that whatever lessons need to be learned are learned.

"It has always been our intention to take stock of the circumstances surrounding these crimes and we welcome the Healthcare Commission's involvement.

"We look forward to working with them over the coming weeks and months and will co-operate fully with their inquiry.

"The views of the public and patients are vital to us in everything that we do and we hope that they will take this opportunity to share their experiences of the services we provide for older people."

Salisbury was convicted of trying to kill 88-year-old May Taylor of Crewe and Frank Owen, aged 92, of Nantwich, following a seven-week trial at Chester Crown Court last summer.

She was cleared of the attempted murder of Reuben Thompson, aged 76, from Crewe, and James Byrne, 76, of Davenham.

l Residents have the chance to speak to a member of the investigation team at two meetings in Crewe on February 23 and 24. For more information or to book an appointment, telephone the Heathcare Commission's helpdesk on 0845 6012238.