The public inquiry into appalling standards of care at Stafford Hospital has so far cost the taxpayer more than £9 million.

The inquiry, led by Robert Francis QC, is set to resume next week after a summer break.

So far, the running costs of the inquiry have reached a total of £7.2million.

The most expensive month of the inquiry has been its first, in November last year, which cost taxpayers a total of £1.07m.

The bill includes staff costs, renting the hearing rooms and offices from the borough council, and IT and communication services.

The cost also includes legal bills for campaign group Cure the NHS, Action Against Medical Accidents and the Patients Association.

Chairman of the inquiry Robert Francis QC agreed to fund the three groups’ legal bills. The remaining cost to the taxpayer includes more than £2.1m spent by the NHS organisations who are also involved in the probe.

The cash totals, up to the end of May, show the biggest spender was the NHS watchdog the Care Quality Commission, which spent £860,144 for legal advice for a total of 13 witnesses.