Central Inquiry News

The report of the £11 million public inquiry into the serious failings at Stafford Hospital will be delivered to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt on 5th February, to be published the following day, says the inquiry chairman.

The inquiry is examining what went wrong between 2005 and 2009, after hundreds more people died than would have been expected.

Robert Francis QC said:

“Following discussions with the Secretary of State for Health, at his request I have agreed to hand my final report to him on 5 February 2013. I will then publish it on Wednesday 6 February shortly ahead of the report being laid before Parliament that day.

I am making this information publicly available, so that core participants, witnesses and those following the Inquiry are aware of its next steps.”

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• Stafford Hospital
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Jeremy Lefroy MP says he has been told this report will be the most important report on the NHS for the last 20 or 30 years.

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A woman who has led the campaign over treatment at Stafford Hospital says she's angry that no one has been held accountable for the failings there.

A public inquiry will issue its findings over the hospital later this month. Reports today suggest that there'll be wholesale reforms of all hospitals.

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The woman who led the campaign to expose poor standards of care at Stafford Hospital has said that "it is about time someone was held to account".

Reports out today from the Sunday Telegraph that a public inquiry into the failings will recommend an overhaul of regulation to ensure poor managers are replaced and better training for nurses and healthcare assistants.

Julie Bailey has published a book telling the inside story of the NHS scandal - which has been blamed for the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of patients including her mother.

However the Department of Health has dismissed reports into details of Stafford Hospital inquiry as speculation.

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A spokesperson from the Department of Health has issued the following comment about today's reports into Stafford Hospital in the Sunday Telegraph.

"Robert Francis QC intends to deliver his report to the Secretary of State for Health during January. The Department and the Inquiry will provide a timescale for publication at that time but expects it to be shortly thereafter, subject to the Parliamentary timetable."

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Compensation of more than one million pounds has been paid out to victims of the failings at Stafford Hospital for what's been described as 'inhumane and degrading' treatment.

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• Stafford Hospital
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The Chief Executive at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Lyn Hill-Tout, has released the following statement regarding the £1million compensation they have paid out.

"After detailed investigations in relation to the care given, the patients, theirfamilies and the Trust have reached an agreement. Sadly, we cannot undo the past or the harm that some of our patients and their relatives suffered as a result of terrible care when they were at their most vulnerable. However, it is important to stress that this does not reflect Stafford Hospital as it is today."

"The care of our patients has significantly improved. This is evidenced by thefeedback patients provide and the support from our local community who useour services. We are not perfect and will continue to listen and improve sothat we become one of the safest hospitals, where patients are cared for withcompassion and receive the best possible treatment."

"In addition to the community feedback, there is independent evidence of ourimprovement and we encourage people to read this, so they get a factual andup to date view of the care they will receive when choosing to come to StaffordHospital."

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• Stafford Hospital
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