In yesterday’s Parliamentary debate about Stafford hospital, obtained by local MP David Kidney, the Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said that the Staffordshire Coroner will take part in the reviews set up by Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

Alan Johnson has spoken to the Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw, and now the Coroner has made it clear that he is willing to exchange information with all of the ongoing reviews. He has also said that he would be happy to receive any application from a bereaved relative to have individual case notes examined.

David Kidney MP comments:

“Yesterday’s debate represented a good opportunity for Stafford’s voice to be heard, and I made sure that the Minister was in no doubt whatsoever as to the extent of the tragic failings at our hospital.

“Furthermore, I reiterated my calls for Stafford Hospital to:
 Clear out the managers responsible and bring in a new leadership team;
 Get staffing levels right and have proper systems for training and supervision;
 Create a patient and users forum with real power – not just a talking shop.

“I went on to leave the Minister in no doubt that the people of Stafford need everything out in the open. This community needs the investigation into what went wrong at Stafford Hospital to take place in public, where there can be no hiding place for those responsible for these heartbreaking events.

“Right now it’s important to build on the improvements put in place by the Healthcare Commission and make sure that patients will always get a good quality care when they attend Stafford hospital. I shall continue to talk to Dr. George Alberti, who is carrying out a review of the hospital’s services for Alan Johnson in order to keep up the pressure for the actions needed.

“I was glad to hear the Minister say that the Coroner will co-operate with the reviews that are taking place, including the independent assessment of patients’ medical records in those instances when this is requested. It is important that these records can be seen and assessed by the independent clinicians doing this work.”

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