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Bug trust chief leads NHS review Bug trust NHS chief stands down
(about 1 hour later)
A former NHS chief whose trust was hit by a superbug scandal is now working for a consultancy and running a review at two hospitals in Surrey and London. A former NHS boss whose trust was hit by a superbug scandal has stepped down from running a review at two hospitals in London and Surrey.
Ruth Harrison is the former chief of Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Bucks, which saw 33 deaths in a superbug outbreak.Ruth Harrison is the former chief of Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Bucks, which saw 33 deaths in a superbug outbreak.
She is reviewing women's and children's care at Epsom and St Helier NHS. She had been reviewing women's and children's care at Epsom General Hospital and St Helier Hospital.
Michael Summers, from the Patients Association, criticised the move but the NHS trust said Ms Harrison had "considerable and relevant experience". Campaign group Health Emergency and the Patients Association had both complained about her appointment.
Mr Summers said: "Patients may think it odd that those in charge of a major hospital leave it with infection rates soaring, leading to deaths and disabilities, and can later go on to obtain employment within the health service, advising patients on their health." The hospital NHS trusts involved had said Ms Harrison had "considerable and relevant experience".
'Golden goodbye' Ms Harrison was concerned that her involvement would be a distraction Trusts' statement
Geoff Martin, from campaign group Health Emergency, called on the trust to halt plans to bring in Ms Harrison, adding that the move was "a disgrace". A statement from Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust and Surrey Primary Care Trust, which split the consultancy fee, said: "We can confirm that Ms Harrison has decided to stand down.
He said: "Failed top brass in the NHS are on a jobs merry-go-round at taxpayers' expense, where they can jump from one highly-paid post to the next, regardless of the wreckage they have left behind." "She made the decision after press reports linking her previous employment in Buckinghamshire to the review at Epsom and St Helier.
Trust spokesman Simon Morgan said management consultancy Durrow was hired to manage the review, after a competitive tendering process. "Ms Harrison was concerned that her involvement would be a distraction and stop the three trusts from being able to effectively engage with patients, local people, staff and other stakeholders."
Women's and children's services at two hospitals are being reviewed The £52,000 fee was charged by Durrow, the consultancy of which Ms Harrison is a director, and was being split by the three trusts, with Epsom and Helier paying just over £17,000.
He said: "Lead consultant from Durrow, who will act as programme director, is Ruth Harrison, who has considerable and relevant senior experience in the NHS. Another consultant from Durrow is due to take over her post.
"Ruth will report to the chief executives of the three partner organisations involved in the review, Surrey Primary Care Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust." Geoff Martin, head of campaigns at Health Emergency, said: "Although Ruth Harrison is no longer involved in the Epsom review, her company, Durrow, are. This is simply not good enough.
He said the £52,000 fee charged by Durrow was being split by the three trusts, with Epsom and Helier paying just over £17,000. "Clearly the Epsom and St Helier Trust are under massive pressure following the public outcry over their appointment of Ruth Harrison to lead their maternity review and rightly so."
The trust runs Epsom General Hospital in Surrey, and St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, south London.The trust runs Epsom General Hospital in Surrey, and St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, south London.
Newspaper reports said Ms Harrison left her job at Stoke Mandeville in 2006 with a £140,000 "golden goodbye", the day before a damning report was published into an outbreak of the diarrhoea bug, clostridium difficile. Infection rates
Thirty three patients died and 334 fell ill at the hospital between 2003 and 2005. Thirty three patients died at Stoke Mandeville and 334 fell ill between 2003 and 2005, following an outbreak of diarrhoea bug, clostridium difficile.
Michael Summers, from the Patients Association, had earlier criticised Ms Harrison's role in the review.
Mr Summers said: "Patients may think it odd that those in charge of a major hospital leave it with infection rates soaring, leading to deaths and disabilities, and can later go on to obtain employment within the health service, advising patients on their health."