New top job for Martin Yeates after Stafford Hospital scandal
The former boss of scandal-hit Stafford Hospital has taken a new job as the chief executive of a health charity, sparking anger from campaigners.
Martin Yeates led Stafford Hospital as chief executive for four years, during which time hundreds of "excess" patient deaths came to light.
But, during an inquiry into failings in standards of care there, Mr Yeates did not give evidence in person due to illness, with his solicitor claiming his client "would probably never work again".
Mr Yeates is now the boss of Shropshire-based health charity Impact Alcohol and Addiction Services. It is believed he took over the role in August. The move has sparked anger from families who lost loved ones at Stafford Hospital.
Cure the NHS founder Julie Bailey today said: "We're really disappointed and devastated for the relatives. He's never given evidence to the inquiry because of illness and now all of a sudden, he's working again."
The results of the 13-month inquiry into what happened at Stafford Hospital are expected in January. Mr Yeates only provided a written statement for the inquiry and lawyers said he could not give evidence in person due to ill-health.
In 2010, his solicitor Andrew Hodge said his client would "probably never work again".
But today Mr Hodge said: "The mere fact he has a medical condition doesn't necessarily mean it is impossible for him to work in any capacity at all."
He resigned from Mid Staffordshire Hospital Foundation Trust in 2009 with £80,000 in notice pay and a six-figure pension lump sum.
Between 400 and 1,200 people are thought to have died needlessly at the hospital as a result of poor care,a Healthcare Commission report found in 2009.
