Trusts face heavy fines (From Penarth Times)

Trusts face heavy fines

TWO health trusts face massive fines after admitting failing to care for a frail Penarth pensioner who died in hospital weeks after an ambulance dropped her off at the wrong address.

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act at Barry Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The charges against the trusts came following the death of 93-year-old Mary Purnell, of Fairfield Road.

Mrs Purnell, who had dementia, fell and broke her leg after trying to leave the house in Wesley Court, Dinas Powys in August 2003.

It emerged in Monday's hearing the ambulance crew transporting her from the Morfa Day Centre at Barry Hospital to her home, were "unfamiliar with the passengers and the route". They let her into the property with a key found under the doormat, despite other passengers in the ambulance saying she did not live there.

Mrs Purnell died in the University Hospital of Wales five weeks later from bronchial pneumonia and leukaemia.

Garth James, prosecuting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, said when the mistake was discovered the ambulance crew carried on dropping off passengers before returning.

Mrs Purnell was found by the owners lying in the back garden with a fractured femur.

Mr James listed a series of errors in court, including a lack of communication, insufficient training for crews and poor procedure for identifying patients.

He said: "The failure of the duty of care exposed Mrs Purnell to serious injury and contributed to her death."

Rhian Griffith, representing Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, said: "We have carried out a review and are determined to make sure this never happens again."

Robin Havard, in defence of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said the incident occurred as a result of "multi-causal issues" which he made no excuse for.