Milton Keynes University Hospital A&E staffing 'puts lives at risk'

Patients' lives are being put at risk at a short-staffed A&E department where a man died amid a series of failings, coroner has said.

John Shrosbree, 72, died a week after arriving "clearly unwell" at Milton Keynes Hospital, a report found. The seriousness of his illness was not recognised and he went into cardiac arrest, suffering brain damage, coroner Tom Osborne said.

Hospital bosses said they had made changes to increase staffing levels.

Mr Osborne, who oversaw the inquest into Mr Shrosbree's death, said it became clear during evidence that problems in the department were mainly the result of a lack of staff.

"I was told that staff shortages occur on a daily basis," he said. "I believe that as a result lives of the citizens of Milton Keynes are being put at risk and the problem should be addressed as a matter of urgency."

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Source: BBC News, 3 October 2019