THE sorry state of Stafford Hospital’s orthopaedic ward has been exposed at the inquest of a diabetic patient who died after nurses failed to administer her insulin.
Gillian Astbury died at the Weston Road hospital in April – less than two weeks after being admitted with a broken arm and pelvis following a fall.
The 66-year-old’s inquest, which will conclude today (Tuesday), uncovered shocking new evidence about the hospital’s working conditions and practices.
Several of the nurses caring for Mrs Astbury during her three-day stay at the woefully-understaffed orthopaedic ward were not aware she had diabetes.
Also, Mrs Astbury’s bed was completely obscured from nurses’ view and there were no facilities to move her when it was found she had contracted hospital bug Clostridium Difficile.
See Thursday’s Newsletter for more on the inquest.
