Mid Staffs scandal: Parents of cyclist who died after being wrongly discharged criticise police for including coroner in review team

Frank Robinson said he was horrified to see South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh was one of seven 'Gold Group' members overseeing a police review into more than 200 deaths.

The original inquest into Mr Robinson's son John Moore-Robinson was quashed by the High Court when new evidence emerged.

The family had raised concerns about the way the first inquest was handled by Mr Haigh when the Healthcare Commission revealed 'high mortality rates' in patients admitted as emergencies in 2008.

Mr Robinson, aged 64, said: "We were never satisfied by the way Andrew Haigh handled John's inquest.

"The first one lasted 90 minutes and there were only two witnesses so we always had our doubts.

"He objected to a second inquest but later backed down."

The initial inquest in 2007 recorded a narrative verdict.

The second inquest took place in the Robinson's native Leicestershire and coroner Catherine Mason ruled John's life could have been saved had it not been for 'serious failings' in his care.

She said: "If Mr Moore-Robinson had been managed in accordance with his needs, the clinical grounds necessitating his admission to hospital would have been apparent. The opportunity to provide the appropriate care to treat his ruptured spleen and prevent critical collapse of the venous system would not have been lost and on a balance of probabilities the loss of his life could have been prevented."

Mr Robinson added: "Given the damning verdict in the second inquest and the fact Andrew Haigh was heavily scrutinised in the public inquiry, I was horrified to see he played a key role in Staffordshire Police's review.

"In my opinion a coroner from an outside area should have been used with access to all the files."

Mr Moore-Robinson, of Sileby, Leicestershire, died on April 2, 2006, as a result of a ruptured spleen suffered the previous day while riding with friends on Cannock Chase.

He was discharged after staff diagnosed him with bruised ribs.

Following the first inquest in 2007 an internal report from the hospital revealed in the public inquiry said Mr Moore-Robinson's treatment could have been negligent.

Two members of staff in the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust's legal department were investigated for suppressing information about the death, but later cleared.

Mr Haigh said: "It was important and entirely proper that I was on the Gold Group to ensure full access to my files and deal with any relevant issues."

Last week Staffordshire Police published its review into 214 deaths at Stafford Hospital –including Mr Moore-Robinson's – but found no-one should be charged over the scandal.

Staffordshire Police were contacted over Mr Robinson's comments but did not respond.