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| Hospital deaths findings awaited | Hospital deaths findings awaited |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Further details are expected to emerge later about one of the worst scandals in the history of the NHS. | Further details are expected to emerge later about one of the worst scandals in the history of the NHS. |
| The Stafford Hospital independent inquiry is also due to report on what can be learned from the case. | The Stafford Hospital independent inquiry is also due to report on what can be learned from the case. |
| At least 400 more people had died at the hospital between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected, due to "appalling" care, regulators said last year. | |
| The government-commissioned inquiry has already been dubbed a whitewash by campaigners who want a public inquiry. | The government-commissioned inquiry has already been dubbed a whitewash by campaigners who want a public inquiry. |
| They have consistently called for a full public inquiry into how the scandal could have happened, including the role of the wider NHS in the case. | They have consistently called for a full public inquiry into how the scandal could have happened, including the role of the wider NHS in the case. |
| STAFFORD HOSPITAL TIMELINE November 2007 - Campaign group, Cure the NHS, set up amid concerns about careMarch 2009 - Healthcare Commission report published, revealing "appalling" standards of care and at least 400 excess deathsApril 2009 - Two Department of Health reviews published, showing standards improvingJuly 2009 - Ministers announced a independent inquiry into case, but stops short of a full public inquiry as demanded by campaigners | STAFFORD HOSPITAL TIMELINE November 2007 - Campaign group, Cure the NHS, set up amid concerns about careMarch 2009 - Healthcare Commission report published, revealing "appalling" standards of care and at least 400 excess deathsApril 2009 - Two Department of Health reviews published, showing standards improvingJuly 2009 - Ministers announced a independent inquiry into case, but stops short of a full public inquiry as demanded by campaigners |
| The hospital, which is run by the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, had been climbing the NHS ratings ladder during the period in question and was even given elite foundation trust status. | The hospital, which is run by the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, had been climbing the NHS ratings ladder during the period in question and was even given elite foundation trust status. |
| The Tories have said they would back a public inquiry, but ministers have so far resisted. | The Tories have said they would back a public inquiry, but ministers have so far resisted. |
| Instead, they set up this inquiry, led by Robert Francis QC, which has been held in private and mainly focused on what happened inside the hospital. | Instead, they set up this inquiry, led by Robert Francis QC, which has been held in private and mainly focused on what happened inside the hospital. |
| The story of what happened at Stafford hit the headlines last year when a report was published by the Healthcare Commission which said patients had been "dying needlessly". | The story of what happened at Stafford hit the headlines last year when a report was published by the Healthcare Commission which said patients had been "dying needlessly". |
| It reported a catalogue of poor standards, including cases where unqualified receptionists assessed people as they arrived at A&E and heart monitors were turned off because nurses did not know how to use them. | It reported a catalogue of poor standards, including cases where unqualified receptionists assessed people as they arrived at A&E and heart monitors were turned off because nurses did not know how to use them. |
| The chief executive and chairman had left just days before the findings were revealed in March. | The chief executive and chairman had left just days before the findings were revealed in March. |
| Care 'now safe' | Care 'now safe' |
| The Healthcare Commission report prompted a further two government reviews, before the independent inquiry was announced in July. | The Healthcare Commission report prompted a further two government reviews, before the independent inquiry was announced in July. |
| Julie Bailey, founder of the victims' campaign group Cure the NHS, said the handling of the scandal had been "disgraceful and unacceptable". | Julie Bailey, founder of the victims' campaign group Cure the NHS, said the handling of the scandal had been "disgraceful and unacceptable". |
| "It is time that the public were told the truth about the very large number of excess deaths of patients in NHS care and the very large number of avoidable but deadly errors that occur in NHS hospitals every day," she said. | "It is time that the public were told the truth about the very large number of excess deaths of patients in NHS care and the very large number of avoidable but deadly errors that occur in NHS hospitals every day," she said. |
| Since the original report, inspectors have said care is now safe, although some problems persist over staffing and equipment. | Since the original report, inspectors have said care is now safe, although some problems persist over staffing and equipment. |
| Antony Samara, the hospital's newly-appointed chief executive, said extra staff had been taken on, patients were seeing doctors more quickly and the trust was now more "open and accountable". | Antony Samara, the hospital's newly-appointed chief executive, said extra staff had been taken on, patients were seeing doctors more quickly and the trust was now more "open and accountable". |