This is Leicestershire --Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for "a totally different approach to patient safety" after a 100-year-old great-grandmother died from dehydration at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Lydia Spilner, from Tilton on the Hill, died in February last year following a "catastrophic error" in her care at the hospital.
Mr Hunt yesterday told ITV News: "I think that story is absolutely devastating and I personally never cease to be horrified.
"As Health Secretary I read stories every day because I see the letters that come in when things have gone wrong in the NHS and we have to have a totally different approach to patient safety."
The Mercury reported on Wednesday that Mrs Spilner suffered a catalogue of failures during a four-week period at the infirmary, including not having enough fluids, which led to her death from dehydration.
Mrs Spilner's tragic ordeal began in January last year when she was admitted to Ward 31 at the infirmary with a chest infection.
The Second World War refugee died on February 22 last year from renal failure caused by dehydration.
Bosses at Leicester's hospitals have admitted the faults and paid Mrs Spilner's family an undisclosed, out-of-court settlement.
They have also announced a new review of issues surround Mrs Spilner's care.
In addition, chief executive John Adler has offered to meet Robert Rose, solicitor for the Spilner family. Philip Parkinson and Vijay Sharma, the interim chairmen of the Leicester and the Leicestershire Healthwatch organisations respectively, will also be taking up the issue
Mr Parkinson said: "We will be raising the matter of Mrs Spilner's case when we meet the chief executive of Leicester's hospitals next month.
"We clearly need the assurance over the coming months that actions have been taken."
Carole Ribbins, director of nursing at Leicester's hospitals, said: "We have already brought in a new ward sister who specialises in nutrition and hydration and we have increased the numbers of staff on the ward.
"Until the clinical and nursing review is complete we cannot speculate on any outcome, including disciplinary action."
She said although hourly ward rounds by staff to check patients were all right had been introduced "they clearly were not working properly'' in this case.
"Since then, we have worked hard to embed them and we check that they are working well in twice yearly audits."
Ms Ribbins said "health checks" showing how wards are performing on a range of issues will be published on- line from next Friday, showing the quarterly scores. Reported by This is 19 hours ago.