New inquiry at scandal hospital

Health Secretary Andy Burnham today promised a fresh inquiry into care at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital.

The findings of an independent inquiry by Robert Francis QC into the scandal at Stafford Hospital were made public today.

Mr Francis unveiled the findings at a special briefing for families and loved ones at the Moat House, in Acton Trussell.

Patients were "routinely neglected" at the hospital after management became preoccupied with cost-cutting and targets, the report concluded.

The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, lost sight of its responsibility to provide safe care, the damning report found.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the Commons this afternoon the failings were "completely unacceptable".

"What happened was a management failure in this hospital," he told Commons question time.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham, who has pledged a fresh inquiry into the care crisis, said: "This was an appalling failure at every level of the hospital."

Inquiry chairman Robert Francis QC made 18 recommendations in his final report after hearing evidence from more than 900 patients and families.

But Julie Bailey, of campaign group Cure The NHS, described the report as "absolutely outrageous".

The probe followed the Healthcare Commission report in March 2009 which found that between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected in a three-year period.

Health campaigners Cure the NHS today said they had been told by Mr Burnham that there would a second inquiry.

Group founder Julie Bailey said she had spoken to Mr Burnham and he assured her there would be a second inquiry looking at the role of the health trust and PCT.

Today it emerged that pensioner James Reay, aged 67, a former miner from Rugeley, was admitted to Stafford Hospital A&E in May 2006 with suspected deep vein thrombosis.

Hospital medics ignored Mr Reay's previous history of stomach ulcers and administered Heparin, which caused bleeding in his stomach. He was discharged from the hospital but began vomiting blood on his way home. He died in June 2006 – days before his 45th wedding anniversary.

An inquest recorded a verdict that the father-of-three died from gastro-intestinal bleeding as a result of the drug Heparin.

Widow Olwen Reay, aged 69, said: "He put his trust in these doctors but he was badly let down."