08/11/2010

Public Inquiry Into Stafford Hospital Opens

A public inquiry into failings at Stafford Hospital has opened today.

The start of the inquiry, at the offices of Stafford Borough Council, was reportedly delayed because one of the relatives objected because family members and the media were in a different room to that of the inquiry Chairman Robert Francis QC and his panel.

The problems at the hospital, which is run by the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, were identified in a report by the Healthcare Commission last year.

The NHS regulator's report said that there were appalling standards at the hospital and found that between 400 and 1,200 more people died there than would have been expected in a three-year period from 2005 - 2008.

The previous Labour government launched several investigations, including an independent inquiry, also led by Mr Francis, but refused calls for a full public inquiry.

The independent inquiry, which published its findings in February, identified systematic failing at the hospital and said that the trust was driven by meeting Government targets and cost-cutting measures. However, the findings also suggested that the problems went far wider than just at the hospital itself and that the broader NHS and regulates should have been aware of the problems and stepped in to help improve the situation.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced the public inquiry in June and said that it would be restore public confidence in the NHS.

(KMcA/GK)

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