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| Inquiry reports on Stafford Hospital deaths scandal | Inquiry reports on Stafford Hospital deaths scandal |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News |
| The public inquiry into the failings at Stafford Hospital - one of the biggest scandals in the history of the NHS - will publish its conclusions later. | The public inquiry into the failings at Stafford Hospital - one of the biggest scandals in the history of the NHS - will publish its conclusions later. |
| Previous investigations have already established in harrowing detail the abuse and neglect that contributed to hundreds of deaths from 2005 to 2008. | Previous investigations have already established in harrowing detail the abuse and neglect that contributed to hundreds of deaths from 2005 to 2008. |
| This inquiry has looked at why regulators and senior NHS managers failed to pick up what was happening. | This inquiry has looked at why regulators and senior NHS managers failed to pick up what was happening. |
| Between November 2010 and December 2011 more than 160 witnesses gave evidence. | Between November 2010 and December 2011 more than 160 witnesses gave evidence. |
| The inquiry, chaired by Robert Francis QC, is the fifth major investigation into the scandal. | The inquiry, chaired by Robert Francis QC, is the fifth major investigation into the scandal. |
| A full public inquiry had been promised in opposition by the Tories and soon after becoming Prime Minister, David Cameron announced its launch. | A full public inquiry had been promised in opposition by the Tories and soon after becoming Prime Minister, David Cameron announced its launch. |
| Chief inspector | Chief inspector |
| The report will be laid before Parliament on Wednesday morning, and Mr Cameron will deliver a statement to the House of Commons following Prime Minister's Questions. | The report will be laid before Parliament on Wednesday morning, and Mr Cameron will deliver a statement to the House of Commons following Prime Minister's Questions. |
| One of the measures the government is expected to announce is the creation of a chief inspector of hospitals post. | One of the measures the government is expected to announce is the creation of a chief inspector of hospitals post. |
| The "appalling" levels of care that led to needless deaths have already been well documented by a 2009 report by the Healthcare Commission and an independent inquiry in 2010, which was also chaired by Mr Francis. | The "appalling" levels of care that led to needless deaths have already been well documented by a 2009 report by the Healthcare Commission and an independent inquiry in 2010, which was also chaired by Mr Francis. |
| They both criticised the cost-cutting and target-chasing culture that had developed at the Mid Staffordshire Trust, which ran the hospital. | They both criticised the cost-cutting and target-chasing culture that had developed at the Mid Staffordshire Trust, which ran the hospital. |
| Receptionists were left to decide which patients to treat, inexperienced doctors were put in charge of critically ill patients and nurses were not trained how to use vital equipment. | Receptionists were left to decide which patients to treat, inexperienced doctors were put in charge of critically ill patients and nurses were not trained how to use vital equipment. |
| Data shows there were between 400 and 1,200 more deaths than would have been expected between 2005 and 2008, although it is impossible to say all of these patients would have survived if they had received better treatment. | Data shows there were between 400 and 1,200 more deaths than would have been expected between 2005 and 2008, although it is impossible to say all of these patients would have survived if they had received better treatment. |
| While the Francis inquiry has solely focused on what happened at Stafford Hospital, there is mounting concern in the wider NHS about basic standards of care. | While the Francis inquiry has solely focused on what happened at Stafford Hospital, there is mounting concern in the wider NHS about basic standards of care. |
| Recent reports by the Patients Association and Care Quality Commission have both raised the issue. | Recent reports by the Patients Association and Care Quality Commission have both raised the issue. |
| Ministers have already started responding. | Ministers have already started responding. |
| At the start of the year Mr Cameron said he wanted to make improving care one of his top priorities for 2013. | At the start of the year Mr Cameron said he wanted to make improving care one of his top priorities for 2013. |
| He pointed to the money being made available for training, particularly around dementia, the extra ward rounds being introduced in hospitals and the roll-out of the new "family and friends" test patient survey as evidence of this. | He pointed to the money being made available for training, particularly around dementia, the extra ward rounds being introduced in hospitals and the roll-out of the new "family and friends" test patient survey as evidence of this. |
| 'Eyes and ears' | 'Eyes and ears' |
| Chris Hopson, chief executive of the Foundation Trust Network, said: "Hopefully the report will help the NHS get to the nub of why poor care continues in spite of persistent attempts by trusts to resolve this complex problem." | Chris Hopson, chief executive of the Foundation Trust Network, said: "Hopefully the report will help the NHS get to the nub of why poor care continues in spite of persistent attempts by trusts to resolve this complex problem." |
| NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar said the release of the report would be "one of the darkest days" in the history of the NHS. | NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar said the release of the report would be "one of the darkest days" in the history of the NHS. |
| "We must turn it in to an opportunity to build a better NHS for patients. Our failings in Mid Staffordshire will be laid bare - and rightly so. We have to respond," he said. | "We must turn it in to an opportunity to build a better NHS for patients. Our failings in Mid Staffordshire will be laid bare - and rightly so. We have to respond," he said. |
| Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of National Voices, an umbrella organisation of patient groups, said the solution lay in strengthening the patient voice. | Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of National Voices, an umbrella organisation of patient groups, said the solution lay in strengthening the patient voice. |
| "No matter how good, regulators and inspectors cannot be everywhere at once," he said. | "No matter how good, regulators and inspectors cannot be everywhere at once," he said. |
| "Patients, families and staff are the eyes and ears of the health service. We must ensure that they are in a position to speak out and be listened to." | "Patients, families and staff are the eyes and ears of the health service. We must ensure that they are in a position to speak out and be listened to." |
| BBC West Midlands special investigation, The Hospital That Didn't Care, on BBC One at 10.35pm on Wednesday | BBC West Midlands special investigation, The Hospital That Didn't Care, on BBC One at 10.35pm on Wednesday |
| Were you affected by the events at Stafford Hospital? You can send us your experiences using the form below. | |
| Were you affected by the events at Stafford Hospital? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |