This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/staffordshire/8256331.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
New inquiry into hospital deaths | New inquiry into hospital deaths |
(about 4 hours later) | |
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. | |
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. |
After meeting with interested parties, Mr Francis promised it would allow patients and their families to give an account of their experiences. | |
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. | |
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. |