According to the BBC, the Stafford Hospital independent inquiry is also due to report on what can be learned from the case.
Regulators said that last year at least 400 more people had died at the hospital between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected, due to “appalling care”.
The government commissioned enquiry has already been dubbed a whitewash by campaigners who want a public enquiry. Campaigners have consistently called for a full enquiry in to how the scandal could have happened, including the role of the wider NHS in the case. During this time period the hospital had been climbing the NHS ratings ladder.
The hospital hit the headlines in 2009 when a report by the Healthcare Commission was published which said that patients had been “dying needlessly”. It recorded a catalogue of shocking examples, including cases where unqualified receptionists assessed people as they arrived in A&E.
Amongst other issues raised were that heart monitors were turned off because nurses did not know how to use them and conditions which were so bad that thirsty patients had to drink water from vases. Julie Bailey, whose mother died at the hospital and the founder of the victims’ campaign group Cure the NHS, said the handling of the scandal had been “disgraceful and unacceptable”.
Since the original report inspectors have been carrying out regular checks and have said care is now safe, although some problems persist over staffing and equipment.
This low quality of treatment is unacceptable and not only has it put patients at risk, in some cases it appears to have been a contributing factor to their deaths. It may be that following the results of the independent enquiry there is a necessity to make further enquiries. Unfortunately it appears that despite considerable improvements being made there are still problems with the hospital and undoubtedly patients are still not receiving the standard of care that they might.