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| Hospital apology for letter gaffe | Hospital apology for letter gaffe |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Berkshire hospital has apologised for writing to patients who had died in its care inviting them to become members of its trust. | A Berkshire hospital has apologised for writing to patients who had died in its care inviting them to become members of its trust. |
| Julia Lynch died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in January. Her family said they were appalled to receive the letter four months later. | Julia Lynch died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in January. Her family said they were appalled to receive the letter four months later. |
| Brian Walker said his wife, who died after visiting the A&E unit in March, had also received the letter. | Brian Walker said his wife, who died after visiting the A&E unit in March, had also received the letter. |
| The hospital said changes had been made to ensure it did not happen again. | The hospital said changes had been made to ensure it did not happen again. |
| Siobhan Dawson, Mrs Lynch's daughter, said her mother had a hip replacement operation at the hospital 14 years ago and caught an MRSA infection. | Siobhan Dawson, Mrs Lynch's daughter, said her mother had a hip replacement operation at the hospital 14 years ago and caught an MRSA infection. |
| She said that had destroyed her mother's health and Mrs Lynch died in the Royal Berkshire Hospital in January, aged 83. | She said that had destroyed her mother's health and Mrs Lynch died in the Royal Berkshire Hospital in January, aged 83. |
| We recognise that we got this wrong and we offer this family, and others, our most sincere apologies Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | We recognise that we got this wrong and we offer this family, and others, our most sincere apologies Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust |
| Ms Dawson said she was shocked when she received the letter, dated 1 May. | Ms Dawson said she was shocked when she received the letter, dated 1 May. |
| She told the BBC: "Given that mum actually died in hospital, if she had been discharged from hospital and later died at home, then it maybe wouldn't have been as upsetting as it it. | She told the BBC: "Given that mum actually died in hospital, if she had been discharged from hospital and later died at home, then it maybe wouldn't have been as upsetting as it it. |
| "But for them to know that she entered their hospital but not to know that she actually died under their care, is very upsetting." | "But for them to know that she entered their hospital but not to know that she actually died under their care, is very upsetting." |
| Mr Walker said his wife had died in the accident and emergency department of the hospital on 27 March from injuries that she had received from a fall. | Mr Walker said his wife had died in the accident and emergency department of the hospital on 27 March from injuries that she had received from a fall. |
| He said: "We had, only a few days before the letter arrived, had her funeral service. I am still waiting for probate on her will. | He said: "We had, only a few days before the letter arrived, had her funeral service. I am still waiting for probate on her will. |
| "What she is likely to need the discount card for, offered for becoming a member, is a mystery. | "What she is likely to need the discount card for, offered for becoming a member, is a mystery. |
| "The office concerned needs to take much more care of how they access the patient records." | "The office concerned needs to take much more care of how they access the patient records." |
| Several thousand letters | Several thousand letters |
| Like other NHS trusts with foundation status, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, asks its users to become members to help plan and run the services it provides. | Like other NHS trusts with foundation status, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, asks its users to become members to help plan and run the services it provides. |
| The members elect the governors who run the hospital free from direct government control and hold them accountable for the decisions they make. | The members elect the governors who run the hospital free from direct government control and hold them accountable for the decisions they make. |
| In a statement, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said: "We sent out a mailing to several thousand people who have recently used our services and sadly a mistake in our system led to us contacting a small number inappropriately. | In a statement, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said: "We sent out a mailing to several thousand people who have recently used our services and sadly a mistake in our system led to us contacting a small number inappropriately. |
| "We recognise that we got this wrong and we offer this family, and others, our most sincere apologies. | "We recognise that we got this wrong and we offer this family, and others, our most sincere apologies. |
| "We have found how the mistake happened and have immediately put in place measures to make sure that it can't be repeated. | "We have found how the mistake happened and have immediately put in place measures to make sure that it can't be repeated. |
| "We apologise wholeheartedly for the distress that we have caused." | "We apologise wholeheartedly for the distress that we have caused." |