Woman who exposed Stafford Hospital failings in ine for award
May 4 2009 by Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail
A CAMPAIGNER who has fought tirelessly to expose the appalling conditions at shamed Stafford Hospital could clinch the Inspirational Woman of the Year title.
Julie Bailey, who formed Cure the NHS campaign group to expose failings at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Hospitals Trust which caused at least 400 unnecessary deaths, is one of ten semi-finalists in the national award.
The campaigner of Milford, in Stafford, was nominated for her painstaking work to improve the quality of care in NHS hospitals after witnessing the terrible treatment her mother Isabella received at Stafford Hospital before her death in November 2007.
Her work finally resulted in the scandal being exposed in a Healthcare Commission report, forcing changes at the hospital, and Julie plans to expand the group and tackle other failing NHS trusts.
“I’m delighted and honoured to be named a semi-finalist,” she said. “Though it was a shock to find out that I was nominated, I can’t wait to see whether I have made it to the next round.
“It would be great to attend the awards and meet the other women who have been chosen to hear their stories too.”
As a semi-finalist of the award, sponsored by Marks & Spencer and in association with women’s health charity Wellbeing of Women, Julie has already won an M&S outfit for her and her daughter worth £200.
Julie will have to wait to see if she is one of five national finalists who will receive an all-expenses-paid VIP trip to London to attend the gala dinner final on May 11, which is hosted by Natasha Kaplinsky.
Liz Campbell, director of Wellbeing of Women, said: “We have had more nominations than ever this year and it was even harder to select the finalists.
“Every year we are overwhelmed by the amazing women who are nominated for these awards.”
Julie’s complaints about staff shortages and patients wandering around half-dressed or being allowed to become violent with not enough nurses to control them were ignored until she motivated other relatives to come together and campaign through Cure The NHS.
