Scandal-hit hospital boss quits at last

The former chief executive of scandal-hit Stafford Hospital will escape disciplinary action after finally handing in his resignation to hospital bosses.

Bosses revealed the news in a terse statement late last night.

Mr Martin Yeates has resigned two months after a shocking report into "appalling" standards of patient care.

The move comes ahead of an internal investigation report which was expected to rule on whether he should face disciplinary action.

He was suspended on full pay after the damning Healthcare Commission report, published in March, called into question his leadership of the trust which runs Stafford and Cannock hospitals.

He had been enjoying a salary of £13,000 a month whilst suspended.

Campaigner Julie Bailey, founder of Cure the NHS, today said: "It is an absolute disgrace. Who is responsible for all those deaths? He should be brought to book and held to account for what he did. The hospital board should be ashamed for how they have allowed him to avoid answering any questions."

David Stone, interim trust chairman of said: "We received notification today that Martin Yeates has resigned. The trust is actively to recruit a new chief executive officer to drive forward the continuing transformation and help the trust, its staff and patients move forward with confidence."