Minister visits scandal hospital
Health Secretary Alan Johnson arrived at Stafford Hospital today and described the lack of care which led to hundreds of deaths as 'inexcusable'.
Mr Johnson this morning met patients and staff at the facility where he spoke of an 'appalling lack of care' in the wake of last week's damning Healthcare Commission report.
The embattled minister is under fire for refusing to launch an independent inquiry into "chaotic" patient care at the hospital, which is said to have caused up to 1,200 unneccesary deaths.
He has also resisted calls for Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Martin Yeates to be sacked, saying it would be a 'knee-jerk reaction'.
Mr Yeates is currently suspended on full pay. However, Mr Johnson has apologised for the fiasco and described the failings at Stafford Hospital as "inexcusable"
And arriving today he said: "There is nothing I can say that can compensate for the appalling lack of care some patients have received at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.
"The Healthcare Commission Report is comprehensive and robust, it pulls no punches.
"Today, I want to meet patient representatives to hear what they have to say and how they may want to be involved in the review of case notes.
"I also want to meet the new chair and chief executive, talk to staff and staff representatives and tour the hospital myself."
Mr Johnson's surprise visit was announced at the last minute after shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley announced he was to visit the troubled facility.
Mr Lansley has demanded an inquiry into why the trust was given foundation status in 2007, despite warnings about its high death rates.
Mr Johnson was accompanied by Stafford MP David Kidney who has been severely criticised by campaigners over his handling of the crisis.
