Treatment Centre found in breach of regulations

The law firm representing the fiancée of a university lecturer who died following routine surgery at Eccleshill Independent Treatment Centre has expressed concern after the Care Quality Commission found the centre was breaching four regulations.

John Hubley died in January 2007 after routine keyhole surgery to remove his gall bladder went badly wrong. His fiancée Bren Neale is being represented by Irwin Mitchell in legal action against Leeds Primary Care Trust.

Then-regulator The Healthcare Commission carried out an inspection at Eccleshill this January resulting in two statutory enforcement notices being issued to operator Nations Healthcare. A subsequent inspection on April 28^th found there had been "some improvement" and the CQC has said it will continue to monitor the centre’s standards. One statutory notice remains outstanding.

Solicitor Margaret Poyner said: "It is deeply worrying that, two years on from the needless death of John Hubley, poor practice in areas like risk management was found at Eccleshill Independent Treatment Centre.

"It would indicate that fundamental lessons are not being learned following the tragedy and that patients’ safety remains in doubt, despite the reassurances given after Mr Hubley’s inquest in November that proper measures would be put in place.