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New inquiry into hospital deaths New inquiry into hospital deaths
(about 4 hours later)
A second inquiry is opening into the failings of patient care at Stafford Hospital. A second inquiry has started into the failings of patient care at Stafford Hospital.
In March, a Healthcare Commission report condemned the local NHS Trust for allowing unqualified staff to carry out checks on patients. In March, a Healthcare Commission report condemned the local NHS trust for allowing unqualified staff to carry out checks on patients.
It also said "appalling" emergency care had led to patients "dying needlessly".It also said "appalling" emergency care had led to patients "dying needlessly".
The Cure the NHS campaign group, which criticised plans to hold discussions in private, held a silent protest after Tuesday morning's meeting.
Members of the group also voiced anger that the independent inquiry would not examine why watchdogs did not detect problems at Stafford Hospital earlier.
Speaking after the inquiry chairman, Robert Francis QC, had outlined the terms of reference, Cure the NHS founder Julie Bailey described its scope as a "whitewash" which would not establish what went wrong.
'Exceptional failures'
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said earlier this year that current and former NHS staff would be expected to co-operate with the inquiry.Health Secretary Andy Burnham said earlier this year that current and former NHS staff would be expected to co-operate with the inquiry.
The new inquiry will be chaired by Robert Francis QC, who will hear evidence from patients and families and identify lessons for the future. After meeting with interested parties, Mr Francis promised it would allow patients and their families to give an account of their experiences.
It was announced by the Department of Health earlier this year as part of a package of measures to tackle "exceptional failures" in foundation trusts. He confirmed that oral hearings, including those involving staff and senior managers at the hospital, would be held in private.
Mr Francis said: "I drew to the secretary of state's attention [to the] view of mine and also the request by Cure the NHS that the terms of reference should be extended.
"He wrote to me recently... declining in that respect to extend the terms of reference."
Initial checks
He said the inquiry would not be a forum for debate about the role of regulators and other statutory bodies in the events at Stafford between 2005 and March 2009.
The new inquiry was announced by the Department of Health earlier this year as part of a package of measures to tackle "exceptional failures" in foundation trusts.
The report in March said about 400 more people died at the hospital between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected.The report in March said about 400 more people died at the hospital between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected.
It also found receptionists carried out initial checks on patients It also found receptionists carried out initial checks on patients.
The Care Quality Commission, which replaced the Health Commission, said there had been progress, but some areas had to be addressed "urgently".The Care Quality Commission, which replaced the Health Commission, said there had been progress, but some areas had to be addressed "urgently".
The trust has said lessons had been learned and staffing levels had been increased.