Care review for 214 dead patients

A tribute wall to people who died at Stafford Hospital

Relatives of patients who died at the hospital set up a tribute wall

The treatment notes of 214 patients who died at Stafford Hospital, where standards of care have been strongly criticised, are to be reviewed.

South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust, which is carrying out an Independent Case Note Review, said 214 reviews had been requested by the October deadline.

The trust said it had employed extra nurses and doctors for the work.

A watchdog had said about 400 more people died at the hospital between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected.

In March, a report by the former health watchdog, the Healthcare Commission, said "appalling" emergency care had led to patients "dying needlessly".

'Quality of care'

As part of an inquiry following the report, Stafford Hospital pledged to arrange independent reviews of the treatment of more than 3,000 patients if they were requested.

Kate Sallah, project director at South Staffordshire PCT, said 47 more families or individuals had contacted it since it took over the review in June.

"I cannot guarantee the Independent Case Note Review will provide everyone with all the answers they are seeking.

"However, I can assure the families and the wider public of Staffordshire that we are committed to making sure that this review answers as many questions as possible about their loved ones and contributes to real improvements in the quality of care at the hospital."