MP Jeremy Lefroy welcomes Stafford Hospital figures

Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy has welcomed news the number of complaints made against the trust running Stafford Hospital have fallen.

Complaints received at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust have dropped by 20 per cent in the past year.

Mr Lefroy today said he was pleased by the figures which show complaints have fallen from 611 in 2010 to 2011 to 492 for the year 2011 to 2012.

"We did see a sharp rise in the number of complaints after the initial Healthcare Commission report and the terrible things that happened a few years ago," he said.

"But I think the hospital will be the first to say it must not be complacent about the number of complaints."

Bosses say the reduction was down to better triaging of complaints and the conclusion of the public inquiry into standards of care at the hospital.

Mr Lefroy was among a host of political heavyweights who last month said Stafford Hospital's A&E department must reopen around the clock in October.

The department closed overnight from 10pm to 6am in December last year amid concerns over staffing levels.

The Express & Star is backing a campaign for the department to reopen overnight in autumn.

It had been due to restore full-time services in March and then June but the move was put back at the last minute.