Campaigners have pledged to keep pushing for a public inquiry into the Stafford Hospital scandal after a committee of MPs refused to recommend one.

Cure the NHS founder Julie Bailey expressed “disappointment” at the report from the Commons Health Select Committee. She said while the group welcomed elements of the report because it highlighted failings in the NHS, they did not agree with its recommendation of private hearings to allow staff to give evidence confidentially followed by a public report of findings.

The committee was called in to investigate the hospital after a damning Healthcare Commission report was published in March showing that hundreds more patients had died due to poor care between 2005 and 2008.

Stafford MP David Kidney said the report was important because it showed that there were healthcare practices taking place in the NHS which were “not acceptable” and Stafford Hospital was not alone.

He added: “We will still continue to push for a public inquiry. There are dedicated people in the NHS who do their best but mistakes can happen, and the systems don’t seem well enough defined to prevent it happening again.”

Miss Bailey said they would continue to lobby Health Secretary Andy Burnham for a public inquiry, because they needed “honest answers”.

She said: “We will accept no form of inquiry other than a public inquiry which is held under the Inquiries Act 2005, with sessions in public, witnesses called under subpoena where necessary, and cross-examined on oath.

“There has, as yet, been an inadequate level of public participation and scrutiny, and serious matters of public concern remain outstanding that have not been addressed.”

Tom Sandford, of the Royal College of Nursing, has welcomed the report, saying the private hearings would encourage nurses to come forward.

He said: “A lot of our members did raise issues at that time to managers but unfortunately no action was taken. But the trust has learned hugely from that and is very different to what it was three years ago.”