Angry families demand inquiry into Stafford hospital deaths

Mar 18 2009 by Alison Dayani, Birmingham Post

Pressure is growing for a public inquiry into the deaths of 400 patients at a Staffordshire hospital.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson ordered an urgent review into emergency care as a report found significant failings at’’every level’’ which led to hundreds of needless deaths at a stafford hospital. Between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected in a three-year period, the head of the investigation for the Healthcare Commission said.

Mr Johnson offered a personal apology to NHS patients and grieving relatives whose loved ones died because of appalling standards of care.

Families have described “Third World” conditions at the trust, with some patients drinking water from vases because they were so thirsty and others screaming in pain.

The Commission launched an inquiry after concerns were raised about higher than normal death rates in emergency care.

Now the Department of Health and Monitor, the Foundation Trust’s regulator, has enlisted national clinical director of emergency care, Professor George Alberti, to lead an inquiry into A&E services at Stafford Hospital.

But angry families from Stafford campaign group Cure The NHS said not enough has been done and are demanding a public inquiry and calling for the trust to be put in special measures.

The Healthcare Commission report highlighted how the trust board had put more emphasis on controlling its finances and reaching Government targets and Foundation Hospital applicant requirements to at least break even by making £18 million of savings at the cost of severe bed, staffing and equipment shortages.

Julie Bailey, founder of Cure The NHS whose mother Isabella Bailey died in the hospital, said: “We want a public inquiry and answers out in the open on what led to this appalling situation. We want Mr Johnson to come up here to Stafford and tell us why this happened.”

Mrs Bailey added: “Families told hospital chiefs, Stafford health scrutiny committee and local MP David Kidney about the appalling conditions for years and no-one would help us. We feel vindicated now. We believe this wasn’t about hitting Government targets, it was about this NHS trust wanting to gain independent Foundation status. We want answers into all of this.”

Staffordshire MP David Kidney said he had raised some patient complaints with the hospital.

“This report was more shocking than I imagined and there were things going on that