9th March 2010

STAFFORD HOSPITAL REPORT BY ROBERT FRANCIS QC

Last Friday evening, Julie Bailey and members of Cure the NHS picketed my surgery at Penkridge.

I spoke to Julie and her supporters and they raised two issues with me.  They asked for my support for a public inquiry.

They asked me why no-one has been held to account for what went wrong at Stafford Hospital.

They said, for example, why has no-one been prosecuted and they gave the example of a prosecution for corporate manslaughter.

On the first of these, I said that I would write to the Health Secretary Andy Burnham and make clear my support for the argument that the wider NHS inquiry recommended by Robert Francis QC should be set up under the Inquiries Act 2005.

On the second matter, I agreed to ask the Staffordshire Police about whether the Francis report discloses evidence on which to base a criminal prosecution.

I have, over the weekend, written both letters and I am awaiting replies.