Trust hits back at 'scandalous' Mid Staffs comparison

The trust has issued a statement to assure the local population they are “safe in our hands” after the comparison was made in a letter to health secretary Andrew Lansley and repeated in Parliament. The trust has been warned by the Care Quality Commission following dignity and nutrition expections. The letter, read out in the house of commons by Coastal Suffolk MP Therese Coffey said: “The current leadership of the trust seems blind to the problems it faces…”

The trust said Dr Coffey had declined to visit the hospital despite “numerous invitations”.

The letter purported to be from GPs from the Health East clinical commissioning group but the trust’s statement said: “It has been confirmed that the letter did not come from the Board of Health East.”

Trust chair John Hemming said “This is a scandalous comparison because patient safety has never been questioned. Patients are safe in our hands. The Trust has taken seriously the criticisms made by the CQC in respect of dignity and nutrition. Patients can be reassured by the actions we have taken and the changes made to date and that we continue to make.”

“In respect of the key issues raised the hospital would have liked to have solved these issues sooner. Making improvements across the entire hospital will take time, but have no doubt; we are not complacent and have already made significant improvements.”

Later this week health secretary Andrew Lansley will visit the James Paget.

Chief executive Wendy Slaney said: “It will be an opportunity to show Mr Lansley first-hand what we have achieved in dealing with the CQC findings, and how seriously we regard these areas of patient care.”