Stafford Hospital Inquiry: Robert Francis reveals how courage of families left impression

Robert Francis QC visited the town yesterday, a day after delivering his long-awaited 1,700-word report into what went wrong at the scandal-hit hospital and how the NHS must be improved for the future.

Speaking to the Express & Star, Mr Francis said he was moved by the courage and dignity of those who had given evidence at the inquiry.

"It has left a lasting impression on me, as has the dignity and bravery of all those who came to give evidence and the appalling stories they told me," said Mr Francis, speaking at Stafford Borough Council House. "The things they experienced, nobody should have to experience.

"If I learned one major lesson, it is really important that people who run health services meet people like this and make sure they learn lessons from their stories."

In his inquiry report, delivered in front of the country's media on Wednesday, Mr Francis concluded there had been "a lack of care, compassion, humanity and leadership" at the hospital. He labelled the situation "a disaster" and the "worst crisis" in an NHS district hospital.

Patients were left unwashed, unfed and without water. Up to 1,200 people are believed to have died due to poor standards of care between 2005 and 2008.

But Mr Francis warned that the report must not just be welcomed and then put to one side.

"There has been an unfortunate history of reports after hospital disasters being welcomed and nothing much then happening," he said. "As you know, I gave a set of recommendations designed to change the culture of the NHS, to put patients at the centre, a culture which puts patients and their safety first.

"It is so important these recommendations are implemented. That is why I recommended every organisation in the NHS should publish to what extent they want to take on the recommendations and then consider reviewing it regularly.

"But we are at the beginning of a journey with this and there are lots of discussions to be had."