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/8337288.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Failing' hospital inquiry begins | 'Failing' hospital inquiry begins |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An inquiry into failings at Stafford Hospital is hearing evidence. | |
| The independent inquiry is into the care provided by Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust between January 2005 and March 2009. | The independent inquiry is into the care provided by Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust between January 2005 and March 2009. |
| In March the Healthcare Commission said about 400 more people died at the hospital between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected. | In March the Healthcare Commission said about 400 more people died at the hospital between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected. |
| The inquiry is being held in private. Protestors who wanted it to be held in public have been outside the building. | |
| Julie Bailey, from Cure the NHS, a group founded by people who lost relatives at the hospital or felt they had poor support from the trust, said the community had been "closed out right from the start". | |
| "They are not going to know what is happening," she said. | |
| 'Exceptional failures' | |
| But inquiry chairman Robert Francis QC said it was right that the inquiry was held in private. | |
| "We are dealing with highly confidential information in terms of medical information and very sensitive personal issues and feelings. | |
| "To get to the truth of people's stories I think its much better for people to give their evidence in private," he said. | |
| The new inquiry was announced in July despite the government previously saying there was no need as the previous Healthcare Commission inquiry had been comprehensive. | The new inquiry was announced in July despite the government previously saying there was no need as the previous Healthcare Commission inquiry had been comprehensive. |
| It was announced as part of a package of measures to tackle "exceptional failures" in foundation trusts. | It was announced as part of a package of measures to tackle "exceptional failures" in foundation trusts. |
| The commission's report identified deficiencies at "virtually every stage" of emergency care and said that managers pursued targets to the detriment of patient care. | The commission's report identified deficiencies at "virtually every stage" of emergency care and said that managers pursued targets to the detriment of patient care. |