'Third world' care saw patients die.

Byline: By JANE KIRBY

APPALLING standards of care at a hospital trust put patients at risk and led to some dying, according to a damning report out yesterday.

The "shocking" state of affairs at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust meant patients admitted as emergencies suffered due to serious lapses in care.

Between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected in a three-year period, the head of the investigation for the Healthcare Commission said.

Families have described "Third World" conditions at the trust, with some patients drinkingwater from vases because they were so thirsty and others screaming in pain.

The Commission launched an inquiry after concerns were raised about higher than normal death rates in emergency care, in particular at Stafford Hospital.

The trust argued the anomalies were due to "problems with its recording of data and not problems with the quality of care for patients", the report said.

The commission found deficiencies at "virtually every stage", including inadequately trained staff who were too few in number, junior doctors left alone in charge at night and dirty wards and bathrooms.

Some patients were left in pain or needing the toilet, sat in soiled bedding for several hours at a time and were not given their regular medication, the investigation found.

Receptionists with no medical training were also left to assess patients coming in to A&E.

The investigation found heart monitors were turned off on wards because nurses did not know how to use them and some patients were left dehydrated because nurses did not know how to work intravenous fluid systems properly.

The report also found that the Government's target for patients to be seen within four hours at A&E meant patients could be taken to "dumping grounds" to avoid breaching the target.

Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of the NHS, said there had been a "gross and terrible breach of trust" of patients, adding the report showed there had been a "complete failure of leadership".

He added: "I'm proud of the NHS but actually I'm really saddened by this report."

Dr Heather Wood, who led the Commission's investigation, said the number of excess deaths between April 2005 and March 2008 was between 400 and 1,200, although it was expected the figure of 400 would be closer to the mark.

It is not clear how many of these deaths could have been avoided.

Chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said the report detailed "a shocking story".

"Our report tells a story of appalling standards of care and chaotic systems for looking after patients," he said.

"These are words I have not previously used in any report.

"There were inadequacies in almost every stage of caring for patients.

"There was no doubt that patients will have suffered and some of them will have died as a result."

Eric Morton, chief executive of the trust, apologised to patients but said "significant changes" had been made within a very short period of time.

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