Stafford Hospital whistleblower is given award in recognition of bravery

The former Care Quality Commission inspector was one of the key figures in exposing the severe wrongdoings within the CQC and the NHS, particularly in relation to the poor level of patient care at Stafford Hospital.

She later gave evidence to the Francis Inquiry into the serious problems at the hospital between January 2005 and March 2009.

Amanda Pollard tried to alert CQC management to her concerns at the time.

She specialised in infection control and it had been the spread of infection that led to the needless deaths at Stafford Hospital. She told the Francis Inquiry that changes to the way inspections were carried out meant that she and her colleagues found themselves inspecting sectors in which they had no expertise or knowledge.

Inspectors with no healthcare backgrounds were told to inspect hospitals and no adequate training was given.

Amanda Pollard was recognised at an international conference in London.

Mrs Pollard said: "It was important for me personally to let the Mid Staffs Public Inquiry know about how NHS regulation had changed for the worse.

"When I was working for the Healthcare Commission the infection control inspections were thorough and cleanliness of hospitals improved as a result. The methodology was sound and the assessment of inspection decisions was robust.

"When the CQC introduced their new methodology for inspections, inspectors were quite worried. Our concerns were founded, but no-one wanted to listen.

Convener of the International Whistleblowing Research Network, David Lewis, said: "Amanda was very brave in speaking out in difficult circumstances and that is why we are gathering to applaud rather than shoot the messenger."

Mrs Pollard picked up the Middlesex University Whistleblowing Award for making a disclosure of information in the public interest.

• Local business: Your Move Neil John, Stafford