Russells Hall Hospital: NHS trust charged over patients' deaths

An NHS trust has been charged over the deaths of two patients.

The Care Quality Commission alleges Natalie Billingham, 33, and Kaysie-Jane Robinson, 14, were exposed to "significant risk of avoidable harm" at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital.

The regulator has brought the charges against Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust over two alleged breaches of the Health and Social Care Act.

This relates to the trust's duty to ensure safe care and treatment.

The trust operates three sites, including Russells Hall, and was last inspected by the CQC in 2019.

Ms Billingham, from Tipton, died in March 2018 from a rare form of sepsis - 72 hours after going to A&E at Russells Hall Hospital with flu-like symptoms and pain in her foot.

The CQC confirmed the second patient involved in its case was Kaysie-Jane Robinson, formerly known as Kaysie-Jane Bland.

The case will be opened on Wednesday at Dudley Magistrates' Court.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk