STAFFORD HOSPITAL: CROSS-PARTY DELEGATION OF STAFFORDSHIRE MPs MEET HEALTH MINISTERS

01 June 2009

Today (Monday) Conservative and Labour MPs from Staffordshire went to see Health Ministers Alan Johnson and Ben Bradshaw about Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and the hospitals at Cannock and Stafford.

Labour MP David Kidney says there were two key issues that the MPs pressed the Ministers on:

“It remains urgent for all of us, Health Ministers included, to ensure that the improvements that we know the Trust has got to make do actually take place. In particular, there has to be adequate staffing levels, sufficient medical equipment and an open and learning culture across the organisation. We all want the hospitals to focus on good quality care for all patients and for this to be put before financial considerations.

“The second issue is the need for a full independent inquiry. I stressed that this issue will not go away and that Ministers need to give thought to what form an inquiry will take. Alan Johnson responded that his mind is still open and he promised to give further thought to our arguments.

“I thought that it was particularly powerful that we had cross-party support for our arguments in front of the two Ministers. I am grateful to Sir Patrick Cormack for arranging the meeting and for fellow MPs Tony Wright, Bill Cash, Charlotte Atkins, Janet Dean and Brian Jenkins for their support”.

ENDS

For further information CONTACT David Kidney on his mobile 07966 378844 or David’s offices on 020 7219 6472 or 01785 224444.