New hope for a full inquiry into hospital

A Health Select Committee hearing yesterday heard that doctors and nurses complained about short-staffing and sub-standard care long before the Healthcare Commission began investigating Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the hospital. It was claimed that nurses submitted around 500 "incident forms" – official notes detailing potential threats to patient safety – between 2005 and 2008.

However, concerns were ignored or played down, it was claimed .

Stafford health campaigner Julie Bailey, the founder of Cure the NHS, was at the hearing in Westminster and said she thought MPs sitting on the committee had been shocked by what they heard.

Miss Bailey, of Wolverhampton Road, Stafford, said the new revelations underlined more than ever the need for a full public inquiry, with witnesses being compelled to give evidence.

"Without a public inquiry, we don't know who's done what. What came out today is that they are all blaming each other and (health minister) Ben Bradshaw is blaming the management, she said.

Stone MP Bill Cash said he was "deeply disturbed" by the evidence of witnesses at the hearing but said he "strongly objected" to some of the comments made by health minister Ben Bradshaw.

Mr Cash said Mr Bradshaw had repeated "absurd" arguments that there was not enough evidence on which to base an inquiry.

A statement from Mr Cash's Parliamentary office reads: "Mr Cash will continue his campaign to insist upon a full public inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005."

Stafford MP David Kidney said he was "disappointed" by the way in which "harmful" accusations had been made at the hearing.

But he added that he hoped the hearing had moved on the argument in favour of a public inquiry.