Legal review call on hospital
Cure the NHS is to seek a judicial review of the Government's refusal to hold a public inquiry into standards of care at Stafford Hospital.
The campaigning group, which is run by families of patients who have died or suffered at the hospital, have taken on specialist solicitors in their battle for an inquiry into what went wrong.
Around 100 people packed into Stafford's County Buildings last night to discuss issues surrounding the town's hospital. In March the Healthcare Commission revealed between 400 and 1,200 people could have died needlessly at the hospital due to "appalling" standards of care.
In the wake of the latest reports into the hospital by government appointed experts Sir George Alberti and Colin Thom, local group Cure the NHS, which is run by families of patients who have died or suffered at the hospital, have repeated their calls for health secretary Alan Johnson to set up a public inquiry.
Mr Johnson has previously refused to call an inquiry but now Julie Bailey, from Stafford and Christine Dalziel, from Rugeley, have employed specialist lawyers from Leigh Day & Co Solicitors who have written to the Minister arguing his decision is unlawful.
Last night Julie Bailey told the Express & Star that should the Government continue to refuse to hold a public inquiry the lawyers will apply for permission to hold a judicial review which could see judges order an inquiry to take place.
Richard Stein, from Leigh Day & Co, added: "We have got legal aid for two clients. We have written to the health secretary to state that his refusal to call a public inquiry is unlawful. If we do not get the inquiry we will go to court to seek a judicial review."
Mr Stein said the permission to have a review could come as early as the summer with a court date by Christmas or early 2010.
During the meeting last night Mid Staffordshire Trust was repeatedly criticised for the way it had cared for patients and dealt with families.
All three local MPs, David Kidney, for Stafford, Bill Cash, Stone and Cannock Chase MP Tony Wright spoke at the meeting which was chaired by Michael Alexander, chairman of the National Association of Link Members.
