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Government turns down calls for hospital inquiry

Sue Carr
25/10/2006

THE GOVERNMENT has refused strong calls for an independent inquiry into Tameside Hospital.

But Ashton MP David Heyes has vowed to fight on after more than 80 families came forward with claims of patient neglect.

Letters and emails flooded in following the launch of Tameside Hospital Action Group two weeks ago.

Mr Heyes said: "Currently we have about 80 families who have written in, some very sad, heart-rending cases really, of people who have had experiences similar to those the coroner originally commented on.

"If there is a pattern, it's older people who have been in hospital with some medical complaint or who needed surgical treatment whose aftercare has been desperately inadequate.

"It is the lack of respect, the lack of dignity, just the lack of caring that seems to have been so widespread.

"You would expect that someone in those circumstances would get extra-special caring treatment and not the opposite."

Relatives will now meet to decide their next move in forcing a government rethink.

"They are extremely disappointed," said Mr Heyes.

"The idea of an independent inquiry will be the first request, to be given a chance to be heard and for their complaints to be taken seriously.

"I will be talking to the minister again and will continue to press this as far as I am able.

"An internal inquiry would only investigate the four cases highlighted by the coroner.

"We now have 80 cases and that surely warrants an independent look, we can't depend on the hospital inquiry."

The inaugural meeting of THAG takes place next month and is by invitation only.

Anyone who wants to attend should email tamesidehospitalactiongroup@yahoo.co.uk or write to THAG, c/o Suite 4, St Michael's Court, St Michael's Square, Ashton OL6 6XN.


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Most recent 1 of 1 user comments

   Personally I think an enquiry should be held into the TV programme Casualty. The TV series seems to see more patients in 1hours programme time than 4 hrs sat at Tameside. Fortunately I (and family)have only had about a dozen times to visit A&E in the 40 odd years on this planet. Not once have we ever sped through in under 2hrs, and no not every time co-incided with chucking out time on a weekend either. Time lapse photography wouldn't catch up with TV...where's the blockage, lethargy seems abound?
Mike, Droylsden
1/11/2006 at 19:30
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