Police probe call on Stafford Hospital scandal
Police could be called in to investigate deaths at Stafford Hospital after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt today branded it 'disgraceful' that no-one had been held to account over the scandal.
The senior minister called on police to look at evidence revealed in the Francis Inquiry following the publication of a damning report this week.
It came as it emerged that at least 20 new cases are being considered against hospitals in the region.
Lawyers who worked with the families of 120 of the victims of poor care are now investigating some 22 other cases – approximately 15 at Stafford, five at Sandwell and West Birmingham and two at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.
The report by Robert Francis QC into the role of the commissioning, supervisory and regulatory bodies in the monitoring of the Mid Staffs trust between 2005 and 2009 found bosses were cutting costs to win foundation status and left patients deprived of even basic care such as food and water.
Mr Hunt today said: "I think it's absolutely outrageous that potentially more than a thousand people lost their lives because of poor care and not a single person has been brought to book."
Law firm Leigh Day said it had now been contacted by families concerned about care in other hospitals.
Lawyer Emma Jones said: "We are investigating claims, many of which raise the same sorts of issues that occurred at Stafford Hospital. These are serious failings on basic levels of care."
None of the hospitals in the West Midlands have been formally approached about any legal action at this stage. Bosses today stressed that they would be reviewing the Francis Report.
