Sir David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the NHS, could be charged with corporate manslaughter in a private prosecution over Stafford General Hospital.

A member of the public has applied to Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court for permission to charge Nicholson with corporate manslaughter and misconduct in public office, as well as perverting the course of justice.

Alan Edwards of Greenwich, London, a former investment banker, seeks to convince the court that Nicholson has a prima facie case to answer – i.e. that his guilt is plausible on the known evidence.

Edwards hopes to call on witnesses including members of the Cure the NHS campaign; CQC board member Kay Sheldon and former CQC investigator Heather Wood; and patient groups representing families.

“The regulatory system is just not fit for purpose,” he said. “That is why I am doing this and because there are serious failings across the health system which means things like deaths are covered up.

“We will seek full disclosure of all correspondence with David Nicholson’s office to find out about all of the information he received, what information he had and what he did with that.”

Nicholson has already claimed that the Labour government’s infection control and waiting time targets were responsible for the deaths because they distracted healthcare professionals from care quality.

Legislation allowing prosecution for corporate manslaughter was passed in the UK in 2007.

Private prosecutions for serious crimes are rare in the UK, though precedents exist. It is not clear whether Edwards will be cleared to bring the prosecution.

The Department of Health commented: “We see no basis for this case.”

NICE’s decision to recommend Janssen’s prostate cancer drug Zytiga (abiraterone) has been backed by patient groups.

Zytiga is now recommended in new draft guidance after further patient data and a revised Patient Access Scheme (PAS) convinced NICE to reconsider its previous rejection of the drug.

Dr Harpal Kumar, CEO of Cancer Research UK, said the decision is “wonderful news for patients” and believes the U-turn reflects “the public’s disappointment at the initial refusal”.

In February this year, NICE failed to recommend the treatment in combination with prednisone or prednisolone after deeming it to be too expensive – despite its clinical benefits.

At the time of the decision, Janssen said it would work closely with NICE to gain a positive recommendation. That included supplying a revised PAS and additional data on a subgroup of patients who may receive the most benefit from the cancer drug.

Janssen also submitted further information on the number of patients for whom Zytiga is licensed, enabling it to be considered under NICE’s end of life criteria.

Professor Johann de Bono from The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who led the pivotal trials of Zytiga, said he was “thrilled” the revised data has changed NICE’s original decision.

“Abiraterone acetate is one of only a handful of life-extending drugs for these men in the UK and, importantly, it can also improve quality of life,” he said. “Some of my patients have been taking abiraterone for several years through a clinical trial and are still pain free.”

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in UK men. More than 10,000 men die each year with a further 40,000 men diagnosed annually.

Sanofi has launched its UK Patient Group Bursary for a second year running pledging £50,000 to relevant support bodies.

Applications are welcomed from all types of patient groups with three chosen applicants receiving grants worth £25,000, £15,000 and £10,000.

Steve Oldfield, Sanofi’s UK General Manager, says the company is once again “delighted to demonstrate our support to patient groups”.

The 2011 bursary scheme focused on support groups that were developing capacity to deliver health services to the NHS; improving and promoting patient empowerment and information; and reducing health inequalities. Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Multiple Sclerosis Trust shared last year’s £50,000 fund.

However, following feedback from the scheme’s panel of expert judges, three successful applicants will share this year’s bursary.

Applications from local groups, social enterprises and professional associations are all welcome. The three successful applicants will need to demonstrate that their programmes can deliver improvements in patient empowerment and information.

“We are excited to be rolling out this programme for a second year and we look forward to continuing our work in partnership with patient groups, delivering the aim of bringing about improvements in patient empowerment and information,” said Mr Oldfield.

Mr Oldfield will chair the panel of judges and will be joined by Baroness Pitkeathley OBE, Labour Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords, the broadcaster and author Baroness Neuberger and Baroness Morris of Bolton OBE, Conservative Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords and former shadow spokesperson for health.

Applications are now invited until Friday 27^th April 2012. The judging panel will meet in May to assess these and decide upon the winning patient bodies.

Further information on the Patient Group Bursary can be found on Sanofi’s website.

Sanofi-aventis (SA) has launched a new £50,000 Patient Group Bursary to help support relevant bodies in the new UK healthcare environment.

The scheme invites applications proposing projects on three crucial categories SA has identified with two successful groups sharing the grant to support the programmes.

Steve Oldfield, UK General Manager, says the Bursary is an “exciting development” which will meet the needs of “professionals and patients in the NHS alike”.

Developing capacity to deliver health services to the NHS; improving and promoting patient empowerment and information; and reducing health inequalities are the three areas SA wants patients groups to explore.

The company says it firmly believes such groups have never been more important in championing the needs of individual patients and improving the quality of their care.

Local groups, social enterprises and even professional associations are invited to propose projects with a panel of expert judges, including Steve Oldfield, former Chief Executive of the King’s Fund, Julia Neuberger, and Chair of the Council of Healthcare Regulatory Excellence Baroness, Jill Pitkeathley, meeting to assess applications and to decide the winning programmes in May.

The two successful groups will then be awarded grants of £25,000 each to support the programmes throughout the year.

Applications for the scheme can be made via sanofi-aventis’ website until Wednesday 20th April 2011.