King's Lynn Queen Elizabeth Hospital fined £60,000 after death of patient
Lucas Allard was discharged after doctors looked at the wrong scan - he later died of a heart attack
Last updated 8th Dec 2022
The trust that runs King's Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hopsital has been fined £60,000 after the death of a patient three years ago.
Hospital bosses dmitted a charge of exposing a patient to significant risk of avoidable harm at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.
It's after 28 year old Lucas Allard turned up at the A&E department on March 12 2019 complaining of heart pain.
He had a complicated medical history and was already awaiting heart surgery.
Lucas underwent a CT scan and staff assessed what they thought was his result, deeming he could be discharged.
Two days later a consultant realised they;d looked at the wrong report and Lucas had a significant heart abnormality.
He was called back in but suffered a cardiac arrest and died.
The QEH was subsequently taken to court by the Care Quality Commission.
Zoe Robinson, CQC head of hospital inspection, said:
“Lucas Allard had the right to expect safe care and treatment from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, so the trust’s failure to ensure its staff reviewed correct scan results is unacceptable.
“If the trust had identified and addressed the weakness of its system, it could have appropriately responded to Mr Allard’s condition and provided him with the urgent care he needed at the earliest opportunity.
“The vast majority of people receive good care when they attend hospital. However, when a healthcare provider puts people in its care at risk of harm, we take action to hold it to account and protect people.
“I hope this prosecution reminds healthcare providers of their legal duty to always take all reasonable steps to ensure people’s safety.”
Alice Webster, QEH Acting CEO, said: "On behalf of the Trust, our thoughts and condolences remain with Lucas’s family recognising the memories today’s hearing has likely stirred.
“The Trust accepts and profoundly regrets that there were failings in March 2019. From the outset, we have accepted responsibility and co-operated fully with the Care Quality Commission at every stage.
“The Trust has and had in 2019, a responsible attitude to safe working in all departments, including an appropriate system for induction and training the procedures for obtaining scans, as well as a properly considered, resourced, staffed and supported health and safety management system.
"This is reflected in the Judge’s finding that the Trust’s culpability was low.
“We have learnt and taken measures to address and close the gaps this case clearly highlighted.
"The Trust remains absolutely focused on being a continuously improving organisation which puts the delivery of safe and compassionate care at the centre, and learning when we fall short as we did in this case is central to creating such a culture.
"The Judge found that this case was not one of systematic failure but was an isolated incident in which the Trust had not fallen far short of the required standard.”