Baby death East Kent NHS trust reaches 'turning point'
Kaye Wilson, chief midwife for the South East at NHS England, said: "This report marks a turning point for services at East Kent and is the result of the commitment, determination and sheer hard work of midwives, obstetricians and the whole maternity team."Only one maternity unit in south-east England received a better CQC rating, Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, which was outstanding.The changes to the classification of the two Kent units came after an unannounced inspection in December.Serena Coleman, CQC's deputy director of operations in Kent, said: "We found significant improvements and a better quality service for women, people using the service and their babies."This turnaround in ratings across both services demonstrates what can be achieved with strong and capable leaders who focus on an inclusive and positive culture."
The CQC report said concerns remained about the size of labour rooms, which were not always big enough to include essential equipment like infant resuscitation devices.Sarah Hayes, chief nursing and midwifery officer at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, said the improvements were "important for our families, staff and our communities".The trust's overall rating and the overall rating for both hospitals remain unchanged, and rated as requires improvement.It said it planned to start a rebuild of the maternity unit in Margate later this year.
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
‘I'd rather die than go back there': How a vulnerable teenager was failed by a scandal-hit hospital
Traumatised by months of forced feeding and isolation from her family on a secure psychiatric ward, 14-year-old Ruth Szymankiewicz fled her family home through a toilet window and flung herself into a freezing pond in a desperate attempt to get someone to listen. 'I'd rather die than go back to Huntercombe,' the teenager had warned just hours before her father Mark, dragged her from the icy water near their Berkshire home just after Christmas 2021. Two months later, Ruth was dead. The teenager died in hospital two days after having self-harmed when she was left unsupervised at Huntercombe Hospital in Maidenhead, where she should have had constant supervision. Her death sparked a three-year-long police investigation, which found the agency worker responsible for her care was working under a fake name and had completed just a day or a day and a half of online training before his first shift on the understaffed ward Ruth was on. Police were not able to question the worker, known as Ebo Achempong, as he had fled the country. Last week, a jury at her inquest made a rare ruling that her death amounted to an unlawful killing after a litany of failings in her care were uncovered at the 10-day hearing. Ruth, who had an eating disorder, Tourette syndrome and a tic condition, was placed at Huntercombe in October 2021 because her mental health had declined and she required feeding through a tube after refusing to eat. But while there, she was denied therapy to help her manage the often painful and traumatic tube feeding that kept her alive, she was left without regular access to psychologists and was only allowed to see her family twice a week. On a much-anticipated trip home for Christmas in 2021, the teenager was happy to be reunited with her family. But she soon became anxious about her return to Huntercombe and protested over being sent back. The night before she was to return, she self-harmed, and when it was time to leave, she squeezed herself out of a small downstairs toilet window and ran. Her father, Mark, followed her and watched on, horrified, as she entered the "icy bog", pleading with her to come out. When she refused, he pulled her out because she was becoming critically hypothermic, her inquest heard. He carried her back to the house, where the family warmed her up, but when the secure transport finally arrived to take her back to Huntercombe, the situation that unfolded left them 'absolutely broken'. In a statement read at the inquest, Ruth's mother Kate recounted the horrifying ordeal: 'We had to watch our daughter handcuffed and her legs taped together so that they could restrain her to get her into the transport. Our daughter was screaming throughout the whole ordeal. This was a breaking point for Mark and I. 'It absolutely broke us to see our daughter being treated this way and seeing her so distressed, but there was no other option given to us apart from for her to be sectioned and taken to Huntercombe, as nowhere else could help. We felt helpless. I think that Ruth also felt that she could see no way out of this.' Ruth's despair at her time spent on the Thames ward at Huntercombe was laid bare further in a handwritten note found after her death. Addressing it to 'important people', she complained about a lack of therapy for patients like her at the hospital, which she said had an 'unsafe number of staff'. The note read: 'I don't really know who this is really directed to... Huntercombe, it doesn't deserve a capital H. 'It is the s***test mental health institution you could get... the unsafe number of staff, how the place makes you worse, the staff literally sleep on their shifts. I don't want this to happen to any other patients ever. My suggestion is, shut this place down.' Eventually, more than a year after Ruth's death, Huntercombe Maidenhead, or Taplow Manor as it was renamed, was shut after a series of investigations by The Independent and Sky News, which revealed allegations of 'systemic abuse'. Patients sent to Huntercombe Group hospitals revealed how they felt like 'caged animals', with claims they were subjected to painful, bruising restraints, medicated so heavily they felt like 'zombies', and isolated from their families. Ruling that Ruth's death amounted to 'unlawful killing', jurors said there had been systematic failings not only at Huntercombe but by the NHS mental health system that funded her placement at the private equity-owned hospital. Clutching Ruth's stuffed Giraffe as they listened to harrowing evidence of their daughter's time at Huntercombe, her parents described how just a few years earlier, she had been happy. They recounted how their first-born child – a little girl 'with a head of bright red hair' - was a fiery and determined character with a 'huge heart', a 'deep passion for life' and a love of animals and the outdoors. But in December 2020, she suddenly developed physical and vocal tics, and the family faced an 18-month wait to access specialist care. In 2021, she developed an eating disorder and by August, she was admitted to Salisbury Hospital before she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Eventually, NHS officials decided she needed to be admitted to a specialist children's mental health unit, and she was taken to Huntercombe. Her parents told the inquest they felt pressured into agreeing to the move, and were soon 'trapped' in a system that was meant to care for Ruth, but instead 'locked her away and harmed her'. During her time at the hospital, the vulnerable teenager was allowed unfettered access to her mobile phone, which she was later found to have used to search for methods of self-harm. Throughout the inquest, multiple staff voiced concerns over short staffing in the unit, with a visibly distressed senior support worker, Michelle Hance, breaking down as she spoke detailed the pressures on workers. Dr Gillian Combe, a senior NHS doctor working for the Thames Valley provider collaborative, which was responsible for Ruth's admission to Huntercombe, admitted that the NHS did not do enough for the 14-year-old. She told the inquest the NHS was aware that the hospital was understaffed daily, and that there were concerns over the care it provided, but there were no other suitable choices available. She appeared to make a plea for more money to build the beds it 'desperately needed'. Standing outside of the Berkshire court room after the inquest concluded, Mark and Kate made a heartfelt plea for Ruth's story to matter: 'Remember Ruth's story. Remember her in the faces of the young people who look to you for help and support.' 'What happened to Ruth is shocking, tragic and harrowing. Whilst there is much more to be said, if change can come from her story, it can make a tangible difference to others.' In response to the ruling, Active Care Group, formerly known as The Huntercombe Group, said: 'We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ruth's family, friends, and all those affected by her passing. We deeply regret the tragic event that occurred, and we are truly sorry for the distress this has caused and recognise the profound impact it has had on everyone who knew her.' The group said it was disappointed that a third-party company it had hired had breached its terms of contract, though it did not state what the breach of contract was. It also said it had made improvements to the quality and safety of its services since.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
What is MRSA? Symptoms and how to avoid deadly infection after rise in UK cases
There has been a sharp rise in cases of the superbug MRSA being contracted outside hospitals across the UK. Britons have been urged to avoid sharing items such as towels or razors, particularly in gyms and leisure centres where the bacteria has been spreading. Figures show that 175 people were infected with MRSA in the community between January and March this year – a 47 per cent increase on the 119 cases recorded during the same period in 2019. At the same time, those contracting MRSA have been getting younger. Nearly a quarter of community-onset cases in 2023–24 were recorded in people under 45, compared with just one in 10 in 2007 to 2008. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was 'too early' to know if this rise represents a lasting change, but it added that infection rates are being closely tracked. Here, The Independent takes a look at what MRSA is, what the symptoms are, and how to get treated for it: What is MRSA? According to the NHS, MRSA (meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of bacteria that usually lives harmlessly on the skin. However, if it gets inside the body, it can cause a serious infection that requires immediate treatment with antibiotics. The UKHSA explains that Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found on human skin and mucosa (the moist, inner lining of some organs and body cavities). In many cases, it causes no problems. But when it enters the body, through broken skin or a medical procedure, it can lead to illnesses ranging from infected eczema and abscesses to pneumonia, joint infections, or bloodstream infections. Most strains of S. aureus can be treated with standard antibiotics, the NHS says, but MRSA is resistant to meticillin and often requires alternative drugs. What are the symptoms of MRSA? The NHS says that many people carry MRSA on their skin without showing symptoms. Problems only arise if the bacteria cause an infection. If MRSA spreads deeper into the body, it can cause more severe symptoms such as: High temperature Chills Dizziness or confusion Breathing difficulties How is MRSA treated? The treatment of MRSA depends on how serious the infection is. Mild MRSA infections may be managed with antibiotic tablets, the NHS says. However, for more severe infections, hospital treatment may be needed. This often involves antibiotics delivered through an injection or a drip. Courses of antibiotics can last from several days to several months, depending on the severity of the infection, according to the NHS. In cases where abscesses or collections of pus form, surgery may be required to drain the infected area. How can MRSA be prevented? The NHS advises that people staying in hospitals or care homes face a higher risk of MRSA, especially if they are undergoing surgery. Visitors are urged to follow strict hygiene instructions, including washing or sanitising their hands. The spread outside of hospital and care settings can be reduced through everyday hygiene measures: Before surgery, patients may be offered an MRSA screening test, the NHS says. This involves taking swabs from the nostrils, mouth or groin. If MRSA is detected, a short course of antibacterial cream, shampoo and body wash is usually prescribed to clear the bacteria before the procedure. The NHS says MRSA can affect anyone, but some people face a higher risk, including those who: The UKHSA warns that while most infections can be treated, resistant strains such as MRSA present more challenges, making prevention and monitoring vital.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Firefighters called to over 40 obese people a week after it was revealed ambulance service had to spend £30million on specialist transport
More than 40 obese people are rescued by the fire service each week, according to startling new figures. The shocking reality of the UK's obesity crisis has been laid bare by Home Office data on the number of firefighter callouts for helping members of the public who are 'overweight or plus size'. It showed that between April 2024 and March 2025 there were a total of 2,274 'bariatric assist' incidents. These can include scenarios where rescue teams have had to winch patients too fat to move out of their flats. Sometimes walls, windows and banisters must be removed to get them out. This year's figure is five times higher than a decade ago, reflecting how the nation's waistline has bulged massively. Between 2012 and 2013, there were a measly 429 callouts for bariatric assists. A decade later this figure reached a record high of 2,342 between 2022 and 2023. Obesity campaigners have previously warned this shocking rise increase the risk that someone will die in a fire because a crew is tied up on someone else's rescue. It comes just a week after a survey found ambulance services have been hit with bills totalling £27.5million to transport obese patients in the last five years. Health leaders have urged the government to do more to tackle the nation's obesity crisis, while campaigners warned the NHS 'cannot cope' with the burden placed on it by individuals with 'grossly unhealthy lifestyles'. Ambulance teams typically call out fire crews if patients in need of help are trapped by their bulk. These will typically be in emergency or health-related situations. Earlier this month it was revealed that health bosses have been forced to splash out on specialist ambulances and lifting equipment or pay private providers to carry people who are too large for standard vehicles. North West Ambulance Service has paid almost £15million in the past five years for ambulances to carry the overweight, Freedom of Information responses show. It hopes to cut its annual payment of £2.715million to private operators by buying eight new vehicles this year for £416,976. And London Ambulance Service is investing £1million for its own fleet, having paid contractors £1.6million a year for five years. South Central Ambulance Service - which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and most of Hampshire - said it had spent £2.3million over the past five and a half years. East of England Ambulance Trust has got through more than £1.25million in two years. John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said last week: 'Taxpayers will be horrified to see the burden placed on NHS budgets by some irresponsible patients. 'The health service simply cannot cope with the weight placed on it by those individuals with grossly unhealthy lifestyles. 'Ministers need to start seriously considering how to ensure that patients cough up when their own choices end up impacting taxpayers.' Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, which represents healthcare organisations, said: 'These examples of NHS spending on bariatric ambulances highlights the reality of the increasing costs of an ageing and increasingly unfit population. 'NHS leaders will be looking to the government to tackle some of the root causes of obesity as part of its wider mission to improve the health of the nation. Being bold and legislating on contentious issues like food policy will help deliver the Secretary of State's ambition to spend less on treatment by focusing more on prevention.' Recent Government research shows nearly two-thirds of UK adults are overweight or obese. Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and muscular-skeletal issues. Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said: 'The NHS is there for everyone who needs it. Providing care for the most obese patients require specialist skills, equipment and ambulances
