Rose Gibb resigns - Kent & Sussex Clostridium epidemic kills patients - all targets met.

A report from health watchdog, the Healthcare Commission, concluded that infection by Clostridium difficile probably or definitely killed at least 90 patients and was a factor in the deaths of a further 241 in 3 Hospitals (Maidstone Hospital, Kent and Sussex Hospital, Pembury Hospital) run by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Hospital Trust . Kent Police and the Health and Safety Executive are examining the report. BBC Full report 128 pages

CEO Ms Rose Gibb ( a qualified nurse) who took up the job in late 2003, resigned ahead of the reports publication on Friday 4th October. Chairman of the Trust Mr James Lee Mr said the appointment of a new chief executive may take a few months.

As CEO Rose Gibb was responsible for the hugely unpopular "reconfiguration "plans for the two hospitals which would see a down grading of Maidstone Hospital A&E services. Her plans had also included the loss of children’s and maternity services.

There were two major outbreaks - 150 patients were affected between October and December 2005.

258 patients were affected in a second outbreak from April to September 2006 .

This search of the BBC website alone produces a detailed history of how this nationwide Clostridium epidemic has grown remorselessly as an obsession with centrally devised targets for hospital performance has gripped hsopital managers.

http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?scope=all&edition=d&q=clostridium

See also here

The screen pic above is from a BBC undercover investigation when BBC reporter Danielle Glevin went undercover in May 2004 in the Kent and Sussex Hospital Go here first and follow links. The interview with Rose Gibbs is here. This was before the 2 major outbreaks.

A sample of the Conclusions of the healthcare Commission report ...

"The trust told us that there had been no deaths that were definitely caused by C. difficile between April 2004 and March 2006. In the Healthcare Commission’s sample of 50 patients who died and had contracted C. difficile between April 2004 and September 2006, our experts found that in 26% of the cases (13) it was definitely or probably the main cause of death and in 78% (39), C. difficile had definitely or probably contributed to the patients’ deaths. "

"Due to poor documentation and record keeping by the trust, a lack of agreed methods and staff being unable to recollect events, the Healthcare Commission has been unable to clarify the precise nature, timing and findings of the various case note reviews undertaken by the trust. "

"The chief executive was widely viewed as being difficult to challenge. "

"Communication between the trust and the PCTs focused on numbers of patients treated and associated costs. There was very little focus on the quality of care. "

UPDATE 12th Oct. Apparently Ms Gibb received a payment of £250,000 severance pay (salary was reportedly £150K pa plus 12.5 K pension contribution) and Health Minister Johnson has asked for any payment to be delayed, pending clarification. It is not unusual for such payoffs to be made tax free as pension contributions.