An independent inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust has found that some patients were left ‘humiliated and sobbing’ by uncaring staff as the trust became ‘driven by targets and cost-cutting’.

BBC News reports that the inquiry – led by Robert Francis QC – found that the trust had been climbing the annual hospital ratings table introduced by the Labour government during the period covered by the alleged abuses in patient care.

The trust had even been afforded ‘elite’ NHS foundation trust status – despite the fact that the ‘distress and suffering’ among some patients had been ‘unimaginable’, according to the report’s authors.

A previous report into Stafford Hospital published by the Healthcare Commission in 2009 claimed that patients had been ‘dying needlessly’ as a result of failures in care – and estimated that the number of ‘needless’ deaths might be as high as 400 between 2005 and 2008.

Private research group Dr Foster first highlighted concerns about negligent care at the trust, which promoted the Healthcare Commission to set up the inquiry and publish its findings in 2009.

Giving evidence at the latest inquiry, Deb Hazeldine – the daughter of one patient at Stafford Hospital – said that her mother had died from ‘every infection they could give her’ during her stay at the hospital.

Founder of the organisation Cure the NHS, Julie Bailey, has called for a public inquiry, calling the handling of the scandal at Stafford Hospital ‘disgraceful and unacceptable’.

Ms Bailey – whose mother died at Stafford Hospital – said:

‘It is time that the public were told the truth about the very large number of excess deaths of patients in NHS care – and the very large number of avoidable but deadly errors that occur in NHS hospitals every day.’

Ms Bailey set up Cure the NHS in 2007, amid concerns over alleged negligent treatment patients were experiencing at Stafford Hospital. By October 2009, Stafford Hospital had received the worst grade in the annual hospital ratings system introduced by the Labour government and was classed as ‘weak’.

Both the chief executive and chairman in charge during the period in question have been replaced. The new chairman of the trust, Sir Stephen Moss, said:

‘I would like to apologise unreservedly for the harm and distress that people suffered during that time – and thank those who spoke to the inquiry.’

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said there could be no excuses for the failings:

‘This was ultimately a local failure, but it is vital that we learn the lessons nationally to ensure that it won't happen again – we expect everyone in the NHS to read the report and act on it.’

The report into patient care at Stafford Hospital records patients being left in soiled sheets which relatives were forced to wash; patients being left alone and falling – in some cases with fatal outcomes that were not reported; and problems with patients getting adequate food and drinks, which were highlighted by half the patients and relatives who gave evidence to the inquiry.

The report also highlighted ‘ineffective’ management at the trust and an over-zealous concern with hitting targets – especially in A&E. Staff were also criticised for a lack of compassion and an uncaring attitude towards patients. The General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council are investigating some of the staff involved.

The Conservative Party has said that it would back a public inquiry into the trust, but government ministers have so far failed to support the proposal.

The government has said that Robert Francis would now be allowed to look into ‘regulation monitoring issues’.

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