MP wants Stafford Hospital probe

Mr Cash said patients wanted more answers

An MP has criticised the government's decision not to hold a public inquiry into failings at Stafford Hospital.

The Healthcare Commission said 400 more people died at the hospital than would be expected and managers had put targets ahead of patient care.

Bill Cash, Conservative MP for Stone, said the government had let down the families of those who had died.

But the government has said the NHS watchdog's investigation meant no further inquiries were needed.

Earlier this week MPs from all parties pressed the health minister Ben Bradshaw in the Commons to agree to a public inquiry. But he refused, saying the commission's report had been thorough.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has previously refused to set up a public inquiry into the hospital.

Mr Cash said: "The information which the Healthcare Commission have reported does not cover the entire remit of all the things that have gone wrong or why, which is of huge importance to the victims and the patients."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version