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Hospital deaths findings awaited Hospital left patients 'sobbing'
(about 3 hours later)
Further details are expected to emerge later about one of the worst scandals in the history of the NHS. Hospital patients were left "sobbing and humiliated" by uncaring staff, an investigation has found.
The Stafford Hospital independent inquiry is also due to report on what can be learned from the case. The independent inquiry said the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust had become driven by targets and cost-cutting.
Regulators said last year at least 400 more people had died at the hospital between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected, due to "appalling" care. The report - the latest in a long line of critical reviews - said the distress and suffering had been "unimaginable".
The government-commissioned inquiry has already been dubbed a whitewash by campaigners who want a public inquiry. Regulators said last year at least 400 more people had died between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected. Families now want a full 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. In particular, they want a probe 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 improvingMay 2009 - The hospital says a report into the role of the chief executive, Martin Yeates, in the scandal will not be publishedJuly 2009 - Ministers announce an independent inquiry into case, but stop short of a full public inquiry as demanded by campaignersJuly 2009 - Inspectors say hospital care is safe, but they still have concerns about staffing. Warning repeated in subsequent checksOctober 2009 - The trust is given the worst grade, weak, in the annual NHS ratings system 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 improvingMay 2009 - The hospital says a report into the role of the chief executive, Martin Yeates, in the scandal will not be publishedJuly 2009 - Ministers announce an independent inquiry into case, but stop short of a full public inquiry as demanded by campaignersJuly 2009 - Inspectors say hospital care is safe, but they still have concerns about staffing. Warning repeated in subsequent checksOctober 2009 - The trust is given the worst grade, weak, in the annual NHS ratings systemFebruary 2010 - Independent inquiry published, describing patients left "sobbing and humiliated"
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 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 trust and in particular Stafford Hospital, one of two run by the organisation.
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 hospital hit the headlines last year when a report was published by the Healthcare Commission which said patients had been "dying needlessly" and put the number of excess deaths at more than 400.
It reported a catalogue of shocking examples, including cases where unqualified receptionists assessed people as they arrived at A&E.It reported a catalogue of shocking examples, including cases where unqualified receptionists assessed people as they arrived at A&E.
The regulator also said heart monitors were turned off because nurses did not know how to use them. The findings were then followed by two government reviews.
Families 'Routinely neglected'
And families described conditions in which some patients drank water from vases because they were so thirsty. This latest report also outlines instances where patients were "routinely neglected".
One senior doctor even said there was a case where a patient with a broken elbow which had pierced the skin was left bleeding and without pain relief for four hours. It documents cases where patients were left in soiled sheets which relatives were forced to wash.
The chief executive and chairman had left their jobs just days before the findings were revealed in March. Patients were left alone, leading to falls - some fatal, which were sometimes not reported.
The Healthcare Commission report prompted a further two government reviews, before the independent inquiry was announced in July. And one woman, who gave evidence to the inquiry, said: "My Mum was in absolute agony, I can hear her screams now, as I walked into the ward."
Julie Bailey, whose mother died at the hospital and the founder of the victims' campaign group Cure the NHS, said the handling of the scandal had been "disgraceful and unacceptable". Half of the patients and relatives who gave evidence also cited problems getting enough food and drink.
The report criticised the "ineffective" management which were too often concerned with hitting targets, particularly in A&E, as well as the "lack of compassion" and "uncaring attitude" which was too often demonstrated by staff.
But staffing levels were also said to be too low because the trust was trying to slash costs by £10m.
The inquiry recommended that ministers consider carrying out a review into the role of the regulatory authorities into why the problems were not spotted at an earlier stage.
Julie Bailey's mother died at Stafford HospitalJulie Bailey's mother died at Stafford Hospital
"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. Julie Bailey, whose mother died at the hospital and the founder of the victims' campaign group Cure the NHS, said the handling of the scandal had been "disgraceful and unacceptable" - and reiterated her call for a public inquiry.
Since the original report, inspectors have been carrying out regular checks and have said care is now safe, although some problems persist over staffing and equipment. "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."
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". Since the original Healthcare Commission report, inspectors have been carrying out regular checks and have said care is now safe, although some problems persist over staffing and equipment.
The chief executive and chairman in charge during the period in question have been replaced and the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council is investigating some of the staff involved.
Sir Stephen Moss, the new chairman of the trust, said: "I would like to apologise unreservedly for the harm and distress that people suffered during that time and thank those who spoke to the Inquiry.
"Their courage in coming forward has helped us learn from the errors of the past and to make changes that have already improved our services".
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said there could be "no excuses" for the failings.
But he added: "This was ultimately a local failure, but it is vital that we learn the lessons nationally to ensure that it won't happen again - we expect everyone in the NHS to read the report and act on it."