Trust in court over patient death

Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust is being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive over the death of Gillian Astbury.

Mrs Astbury, 66, died on April 11, 2007 after she was not given insulin while an in-patient at Stafford Hospital.

The HSE announced in August that criminal proceedings were being launched against the Mid Staffordshire trust, which went into administration in April.

The trust is alleged to have breached its duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to devise, implement or properly manage structured and effective systems of communication for sharing patient information.

The first hearing in the case will be held at Stafford Magistrates’ Court.