NHS Trust Under Fire for Patient Deaths

The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) has faced serious concerns over the deaths of 20 patients in the past decade. Forensic doctors have repeatedly highlighted problems with the trust, including poor risk assessments and inadequate record-keeping.

Background

In 2015, 22-year-old Alice Figueiredo died while in the care of the trust. An inquest found that the trust had failed to provide adequate care, and the trust was found guilty of serious failures. The trust was fined for health and safety breaches, but cleared of the more serious charge of corporate manslaughter.

Recent Revelations

The BBC has analyzed 20 reports from the past decade, which highlight serious concerns about the trust’s care. In two cases, patient notes were found to be fake, including one instance where a man was recorded as having breakfast three days after his death. The most common criticisms include poor risk assessments, inadequate record-keeping, and a lack of communication between teams.

Case Study: Winbourne Charles

Winbourne Charles, a 58-year-old man, died in 2021 while in the care of the trust. His family and friends describe him as a "beautiful man" and a "beautiful soul," but he became increasingly depressed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being rated as high risk, his observations were reduced from every 15 minutes to every hour. On the day he died, observations were stopped for an hour, and employees were found to be "in panic" when they discovered his body.

Investigation Findings

The investigation into Winbourne’s death found that employees had falsified observation records, including three entries made after his death. The report also found that the trust’s policies and procedures were not followed, and that employees were not adequately trained. The trust has apologized for Winbourne’s death and has accepted the findings of the forensic doctor.

Charity Response

The charity Inquest has supported many families who believe their relatives were failed by the mental health system. Deborah Coles, director of Inquest, says that avoidable deaths are "far too often" and that trusts should move away from a culture of defense and denial, and towards one of learning and improvement.

Conclusion

The NLFT has faced serious concerns over the deaths of 20 patients in the past decade. While the trust has apologized and accepted the findings of the forensic doctor, many families remain skeptical about whether the trust will learn from its mistakes. The trust must prioritize patient safety and take concrete steps to address the systemic failures that have led to these tragic deaths.