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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Former NHS Trusts must apologise to family after Ombudsman report
June 4, 2009 12:00 AM
Commenting on the release of the "Report by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales on an Investigation into a complaint against the former Pontypridd & Rhondda NHS Trust and the former North Glamorgan NHS Trust", Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West said:
"The details surrounding this case are truly harrowing. This report makes it clear that Mr Hall's death was as a result of mistakes made by the Trusts and that Mr and Mrs Tilley should be given an complete apology in person by Cwm Taf NHS Trust."
"I cannot believe that the Trust is refusing this recommendation by the Ombudsman when he has been so clear as to where the fault lies. They must stop posturing and accept fault. I have written to the NHS Trust asking them to provide the apology that Mr and Mrs Tilley are deserved. I have also written to the Minister asking her to intervene to put a stop to the disgraceful way that the Trust is treating the Tilleys."
ENDS
Note: Mr Black has been helping Mr and Mrs Tilley with their case since April 2007 and has previously written to the Health Minister, the Trusts involved and the Coroner for Bridgend on their behalf.
A copy of the report is attached. The report refers specifically to the refusal to offer an apology as follows:
"The Trust is unable to accept this recommendation. ... There is a need to obtain consent from the next of kin to release information to [Mr & Mrs T] and as far as I am aware this consent has not been received. I would however be happy to write to the complainants apologising for the failings identified and advising them that action has now been taken to address the areas where the standard of care was not acceptable."
In my view, the Trust"s response to this recommendation is unreasonable. On one hand the Trust is not prepared to accept my recommendation that the Chief Executive and Chair of the Trust apologise in person to Mr and Mrs T for the failings identified in this report. On the other hand however, the Chief Executive is prepared to write to Mr and Mrs T apologising for the failings identified in this report and to advise them of the action that has been taken.
In my view, it is not sustainable and appears somewhat churlish to refuse to provide Mr and Mrs T with an apology in person given that the Trust is prepared to issue a letter containing the very same apology. My decision to recommend that the Chief Executive and the Chair of the Trust apologise to Mr and Mrs T in person for the failings which led to their son"s premature death was not one which I took lightly. The severity of the failings identified in this report and the consequences to Mr H in my view warrants an expression of regret over and above a letter of apology from the Chief Executive. I therefore I reiterate my recommendation that the Trust"s Chief Executive and Chair apologise in person to Mr and Mrs T for the failings identified in this report.
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