THAT GOOD OLD BUREAUCRATIZED HEALTH CARE AGAIN: KILLING YOUNG BRITISH MOTHERS THIS TIME


Their only way out was to turn to the private sector

"The Government ordered a team of doctors into a failing hospital maternity unit where ten mothers have died in less than three years. John Reid, the Health Secretary, said yesterday that urgent action was being taken to address growing concerns about a high number of deaths at Northwick Park Hospital, in northwest London. The Healthcare Commission, which monitors hospital standards, wrote to Mr Reid demanding immediate action after an inquiry showed “serious system failures” at the hospital’s maternity unit caused by staff shortages. Ten women have died at the hospital, where about 5,000 births take place annually, in the past three years — five times the national average. An average of about one mother in 8,700 dies in childbirth in Britain.

An inquest was told in February that Premalatha Jeevagan died shortly after giving birth at the hospital when doctors failed to realise that she had suffered a womb haemorrhage. The hospital insisted that new procedures and protocols had been put into place after her death last May. But on learning this month of the death of another mother at the unit, the Healthcare Commission decided to carry out an unannounced spot check, which revealed that problems had still not been addressed. The commission said that while there was no evidence of a link between the ten deaths, it would now begin an investigation into each of them to be absolutely sure.

In his letter to Mr Reid, Sir Ian Kennedy, the commission’s chairman, asked for special measures to be taken immediately at the hospital, which is part of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust. It is only the second time that the commission has used such powers. The trust asked the commission to start an investigation into its maternity services in August last year. In December, the trust agreed to take urgent action to remedy any problems, but this month the commission found that that had not been carried out. “We found serious problems with these services and no longer had sufficient confidence that the trust could resolve them without external help,” Sir Ian said yesterday. “Under these circumstances, we must take immediate action to protect the safety of patients.”

The commission made a series of recommendations, including the introduction of extra clinicians and monitoring, which have been accepted by the Government. Mr Reid said yesterday that in order to relieve pressure on maternity services at the unit, elective Caesarean deliveries would be undertaken at the private Portland Hospital in Central London. Celebrities, including Victoria Beckham and Claudia Schiffer, have given birth at the Portland.

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For greatest efficiency, lowest cost and maximum choice, ALL hospitals and health insurance schemes should be privately owned and run -- with government-paid vouchers for the very poor and minimal regulation.

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