Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Coronavirus: Families blame NHS for hospital-acquired virus deaths

Coronavirus: Families blame NHS for hospital-acquired virus deaths

Three families whose loved ones died after contracting Covid-19 in hospital say mistakes were made by NHS trusts.

David Laws' family say he was left on a trolley overnight, and held in a Covid bay on a dirty bed

It follows a BBC investigation which found that one third of patients who died with Covid-19 at a Brighton hospital are likely to have contracted it on the wards.

David Laws, David Smith and Debbie Burford all died of coronavirus.

Carol Bursey, Mr Laws' wife, said staff "let him down massively", despite the "extreme conditions" they were in.

Mr Laws was admitted to the William Harvey hospital in Kent with pneumonia in December 2020.

Despite being a vulnerable patient with leukaemia, his family say he was left on a trolley in a corridor overnight in A&E.

During an earlier admission in September he also complained to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) about being put in a coronavirus positive holding bay, on a bed which had not been cleaned or sanitised between patients.

The William Harvey Hospital was heavily criticised by the CQC for safety failings in its emergency department

He contracted the virus and died in January, the disease was listed on his death certificate.

Just a few months before, the CQC heavily criticised the trust for serious Covid infection control failings in its emergency department, including incorrect PPE, poor hygiene practices, and social distancing failures.

A revisit in March found some changes had been made, so the CQC upgraded the trust's rating from "inadequate" to "requires improvement".

A spokesman for the East Kent NHS Trust said they have "strengthened infection prevention and control" and staff are "focused on preventing infection, with several areas of outstanding practice to keep patients safe, including measures to protect clinically vulnerable patients".

David Smith died of Covid-19 on Christmas day, after going to hospital due to a heart attack

Retired crime prevention officer David Smith was taken to Eastbourne District General in November after a heart attack.

The 77-year-old died of Covid-19 on Christmas day.

His wife Christine Smith said the family were all "shattered, devastated".

"I thought because he was in hospital he was being protected," she added.

A spokesperson for East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said their staff have "routinely made use of asymptomatic test kits made available by the government" and have complied "with emerging and evolving national infection prevention and control standards".

Tests confirmed Debbie Burford did not have coronavirus when she went into hospital

Debbie Burford died from Covid related pneumonia in January.

The 52-year-old tested negative when admitted to East Surrey hospital in December, but was positive ten days later.

Her sister-in-law Oona Vatcher said the hospital failed to adequately isolate Covid positive patients and "mistakes were definitely made".

Surrey and Sussex Health NHS Trust said the CQC recently confirmed it has stringent infection control measures and "though they can reduce the risk of transmission, they do not completely remove the risk".

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×