Two Stafford Hospital nurses sacked over patient's death

Two nurses have been sacked and a third suspended over the death of a 66-year-old grandmother in Stafford Hospital.

An inquest is being held next month on Gillian Astbury who died at the hospital in 2007.

Mrs Astbury, a diabetic from Hednesford, was in the hospital for a minor operation and allegedly died because nurses forgot to give her insulin injections.

A police investigation was carried out into the lack of care with three nurses facing possible manslaughter charges, but the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was not enough evidence to bring criminal charges.

Mrs Astbury was due to have the operation after hurting her hip in a fall.

Doctors made a note of her diabetes and gave her an insulin injection, but days later her friend Ronald Street was phoned by nurses who told him she had taken a turn for the worse.

He arrived to find doctors trying to revive her with insulin, but she died two hours later.

Mr Street said he overheard a nurse say Mrs Astbury had slipped into a coma because staff had not given her insulin since the previous day.

Antony Sumara, chief executive of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed the action against the three nurses.

He said: "I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Astbury family for their sad loss and apologise for the appalling care Mrs Astbury received in April 2007.

"Mrs Astbury's death was reported as a Serious Untoward Incident at the time and in accordance with the Trust's policy, a full investigation into her care and treatment was carried out.

"The recommendations from this investigation have been implemented. Actions included re-training staff in issues including diabetes and dementia awareness and a new structure for nurse handovers.

"We have since reviewed the file relating to this patient's appalling care and we are taking further action against a member of nursing staff."

Mr Sumara, who was not in post when Mrs Astbury died, added that the hospital could not defend the action of the nurses.

He said he had only recently become aware of all the circumstances. He said: "You can't defend something as basic as not giving a known diabetic their insulin."

Mrs Astbury's family are said to be furious over her treatment.

By John Corser