The report, which has led to one of the biggest hospital scandals of recent years, claimed that those in charge at the trust had become driven by targets and cost cutting whilst patients were ‘routinely neglected’ and had to endure appalling standards of care. It follows another report, from the Healthcare Commission last year, which claimed that between 400 and 1,200 more people died at Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2008 than might otherwise have been expected.

The independent report, headed by Robert Francis QC, heard evidence from more than 900 patients and families. It says that at the hospital the most basic elements of care were neglected; patients were often left unwashed for up to a month, some were lying on soiled sheets that relatives had to take home and wash, others developed infections, with some proving fatal. The report added that most staff did their best although the attitude of some of the nurses left a lot to be desired.

Those staff who did speak out about the appalling levels of care were ignored, although the report claims that there was ‘strong evidence’ that many were stopped from doing so by threats or bullying.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham called the situation, ‘an appalling failure at every level of the hospital’. He said that there were no excuses and stated that the board who had presided over the trust at the time has now been replaced. He also said that some of the staff were currently being investigated by the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Health Secretary announced that reviews will take place to investigate how the regulatory bodies failed to spot what was going wrong at Stafford Hospital. They will also look at alleged misconduct by doctors and nurses, a new system to regulate managers and protection for whistleblowers.

The Care Quality Commission, which regulates the NHS, has said that the trust is safe to provide services, but that concerns remain about staffing, patient welfare, the suitability of equipment and how the trust monitored and dealt with complaints.

The inquiry has made 18 recommendations, all accepted by the government, which include a new review of how regulators and regional health authorities monitor NHS hospitals and a report on how to identify failing trusts early.

However, families of those who died or received poor care have criticised the inquiry, branding it a ‘whitewash’. They have called for a full public inquiry and the Conservatives have backed those calls, accusing ministers of trying to shift the blame onto managers rather than taking responsibility for problems with national targets.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7306347/Patients-routinely-neglected-at-Stafford-Hospital.html

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