The number of complaints received by the health trust running scandal-hit Stafford Hospital has leapt by more than 20 per cent in the last three months.

The figures appear in a performance review due to be discussed by health bosses at South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) on Wednesday. They show the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Stafford and Cannock hospitals, received 104 complaints compared to 84 in the previous quarter and 82 in the quarter before that.

Helen Moss, director of nursing and governance at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, said while there was an increase in the complaints the trust also received a record number of compliments.

Almost 1,000 people called or wrote to the trust to praise them, which is a rise of 347 compliments compared with the last quarter.

Complaints range from the attitude of staff to communication with patients as well as medical care, appointment delays and delays in A&E admissions.

In her report to the PCT, Yvonne Sawbridge said staff attitude remained the largest source of complaints and the issue had been raised by the PCT.

The rises in both compliments and complaints can be traced back to the publication of the Healthcare Commission report in March which highlighted that lack of adequate care at Stafford Hospital led to hundreds of deaths which may have been avoided.

Mrs Moss added: “We have seen a marked increase in the reporting of patient feedback – both positive and negative. We are able to track this change to the coverage of the report on the trust issued by the Healthcare Commission in March. During and since this report we have openly encouraged people to provide comment as we welcome all feedback.

“This dramatic increase in compliments can be attributed to the negative media coverage, which many patients attending the hospital during this time, did not recognise as well as attributed to the hard working team and dedicated nursing staff we have here at the hospital today.”