Former hospital boss 'misled NHS watchdog'

The disgraced former boss of Stafford Hospital allegedly misled one of the NHS regulators about a shortage of staff in the accident and emergency department, a public inquiry has heard.

The probe into failings at the hospital heard how Martin Yeates, who resigned after the scandal of patient care was exposed in 2009, had told the Healthcare Commission in 2008 that A&E had taken on a locum consultant — but later admitted the person did not exist.

The inquiry yesterday saw an email which revealed how Mr Yeates had told the then NHS watchdog that the hospital had employed a locum to help relieve pressure in the A&E department.

Only one consultant was working in A&E at the time with no consultant cover at weekends or evenings.

There was also a shortage of middle grade doctors with junior doctors left to cope in a situation which put patients at risk. But when the Healthcare Commission asked to interview the locum consultant, Mr Yeates said the consultant did not exist.

The revelations emerged as the inquiry saw an email sent by Geraint Griffiths, who was then a director at South Staffordshire PCT, to the PCT chief executive Stuart Poynor and quality director Yvonne Sawbridge.

In the email, dated June 26, 2008, Mr Griffiths raised fears over staffing in A&E, saying the hospital had promised extra locums. "But we have been here before and the locums never actually appear," he said.

The email also told of a "row" between Mr Yeates and the commission's investigation manager. "Martin has already had a row with Heather Wood after their first response to the Healthcare Commission said a locum had started when they hadn't arrived.

"Martin had to put his hand up when the Healthcare Commission asked to interview the consultant." Mr Griffiths said there was a risk of a "cascade failure" with a risk to patient safety.