NHS campaigner 'may stand as MP'

The woman at the centre of a campaign demanding better care at Stafford Hospital has said she is considering standing for Parliament.

Julie Bailey began the Cure The NHS group in 2007 after her mother Bella died at the hospital and said she may stand for the Stafford seat.

In March, the Healthcare Commission criticised the hospital's "appalling" care that may have led to 1,000 deaths.

The Stafford seat is currently held by Labour MP David Kidney.

Ms Bailey told the BBC Politics Show: "You know, politics is about a lot more than the NHS.

"But I think it would be refreshing to have different people, to have independent people who haven't got a background in politics."

Hospital's failings

Ms Bailey runs the Breaks Cafe in Stafford, which has become the base of the campaign group. She has a grown-up son and daughter

She has been urging ministers to hold a full public inquiry into the hospital's failings and recently confronted Health Secretary Andy Burnham at a protest organised by the campaign group.

A new inquiry opened into the issues last month, but campaigners claimed its focus would be "too narrow" and criticised it for being held in private.

Mr Burnham has said he will wait to see the outcomes of the present inquiry.

The Care Quality Commission, which replaced the Health Commission, has since said there had been progress at the hospital, but some areas had to be addressed "urgently".

• The Politics Show, 1200 BST Sunday, BBC One

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