Local Health and Care Providers respond to our questions following the Lucy Letby Verdict
Background
Healthwatch Hertfordshire’s Board discussed the issues and implications and wanted assurance for people using health services in Hertfordshire that similar incidents would be prevented, identified and dealt with by all providers.
In September 2023 we wrote to all local Trusts where Hertfordshire residents access health and care services and the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Board.
Our approach
We wanted to know what actions were being taken by them and in September 2023 sent a letter to providers asking a range of questions.
This is a list of providers we contacted:
- Central London Community Healthcare Trust
- East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
- Herts Community NHS Trust
- Hertfordshire Partnership University Foundation Trust
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
- West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and
- The Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Boar
Not all Trusts provide Neonatal services but actions following the Letby Verdict and resulting concerns seemed appropriate to all providers.
What happened next
The Trusts and Integrated Care Board all responded and in some cases we needed to ask additional questions. A Healthwatch Hertfordshire report capturing their responses is now published and can be accessed below this article along with links to individual verbatim responses from each organisation.
Through our regular meetings with Leaders of Local Trusts and the ICB we will continue to Hold to Account and monitor progress against new and proposed measures to secure public reassurance to both protect the public in Hertfordshire who use health and care services and to ensure staff have the right tools and process, protection and confidence in speaking up.
Events surrounding the tragic deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital highlighted a range of issues about the way leaders in NHS organisations identify and respond to concerns raised by staff, patients and families.
While we all await the outcome of the Letby inquiry, we were sure that people in Hertfordshire would want to know what steps our local NHS is taking to review its own culture and procedures and to make any necessary changes at the earliest opportunity.
I’m grateful to everyone involved in considering our questions and putting together their substantial responses, collated in our report. This provides an important record for Hertfordshire residents of the commitments made by our Trusts and the Integrated Care Board. We will also continue to follow up on progress during our regular meetings with chairs, chief executives and senior clinical leaders in these organisations, encouraging them to communicate clearly and openly about these issues with the communities they serve.
Note: Herts County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee concurrently approached neo natal providers in Hertfordshire with a range of questions focused on reporting and protection for whistleblowers. Those results can be found on their website here.
HwH Letby Verdict Report
You can read the full report and supporting evidence here.
For the purpose of identification we have labelled the organisations listed from A – G:
A. Central London Community Healthcare Trust
B. East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
C. Herts Community NHS Trust
D. Hertfordshire Partnership University Foundation Trust
E. The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
F. West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and
G. The Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Supporting Evidence supplied by all Trusts and the ICB
For the purpose of identification we have labelled the organisations listed from A – G.
Original letter sent to all Trusts and the ICB
Template letter sent to all Trusts and the Integrated Care Board in September 2023
