Barts NHS Trust apologises for inexcusable failings

A National Health Service Trust has apologised for "inexcusable failings" that led to samples failing to be sent to medical testing facilities for DNA analysis.

Two staff members from the sexual assault centre Haven in Whitechapel have been dismissed and it is now under new management.

NHS England explained that 93 clients were affected, while Barts Health NHS Trust said immediate action was taken to retest samples after an investigation was carried out.

The Trust said in a statement: "As soon as we became aware that there was an issue in 2011, we took swift and immediate action to ensure that all the affected samples were retested and contacted the individuals involved to offer a full apology, support and counselling."

All three Havens in London – the one in Whitechapel, as well as sites in Paddington and Camberwell – are now managed by King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.