STAFFORD HOSPITAL – 90 MINUTE DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT ON WEDNESDAY

Debate video

March 2009

Stafford’s MP David Kidney’s request for an urgent debate about Stafford hospital last week was refused by the Speaker but the MP persisted in asking for a debate and has obtained a 90-minute debate in Westminster Hall which will take place tomorrow (Wednesday).

David Kidney says he will use the debate to put three points to the Minister of State for Health, Ben Bradshaw MP:

“I want to express the need for the utmost urgency in carrying out the actions that the Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced a fortnight ago. I particularly want commitments about the disciplinary proceedings against the Chief Executive. I want the promise of an independent review of medical records and the early completion of Dr. George Alberti’s review which I am pleased to confirm will now look in to all parts of the hospital and its services.

“I will stress the actions needed to give us all confidence that in future our hospital will provide the best NHS care: a clearout of those responsible, a new team at board level, staffing levels where they should be NOW, binding assurances that these staffing levels and adequate training are kept at a high standard and we must have a patient user forum with real power - not just a talking shop.

"We need everything out in the open - I will continue to call for a full and open review and a public inquiry.

“This is the first opportunity for a full Parliamentary debate about these issues. It allows me to tell the Minister what Stafford people want him to do to help us understand all that went wrong and what needs to be done to restore public confidence in our local hospital.”

About Westminster hall Debates.

Westminster Hall is a good setting for this debate because it will be an opportunity for a quiet and thoughtful exploration of some of the issues and unanswered questions that surround the problems at the hospital, and for MPs to explore what needs to be done to move forward.

Westminster Hall debates are sometimes broadcast during the day on BBC Parliament. As Parliament is sitting, this is unlikely to be the case tomorrow. The debate is more likely to be shown during the weekend, often early morning or late at night.

The text of the debate will be available in full on this site by the end of the week.