Darkest day for the NHS as Stafford Hospital report blames management
A damning report into the biggest scandal in NHS history today laid the blame for up to 1,200 deaths on a box-ticking culture overseen by a former Shropshire charity boss.
The report into the Stafford Hospital scandal – which saw hundreds of patients die unnecessarily between 2005 and 2008 – blames the management team.
It was led by chief executive Martin Yeates who was in charge of a regime which cut costs and reduced staff levels in an attempt to hit Labour's efficiency targets and win foundation status.
Mr Yeates, 54, last month resigned as chief executive of Shropshire health charity Impact Alcohol and Addiction Services amid concerns over negative publicity following his appointment.
Stafford Hospital inquiry findings - LIVE
Robert Francis QC was publishing his report into the failings at Stafford today following a two-and-a-half-year public inquiry.
Between 400 and 1,200 died at hospitals run by the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust duing the scandal – most of them at Stafford.
Mr Francis was expected to conclude that "routine neglect" became the norm because of a culture of "fear, bullying and secrecy".
Campaigners will call for the resignation of Sir David Nicholson, the head of the NHS who was previously in charge of the strategic health authority responsible for Stafford and Cannock Chase hospitals.
It is understood that Sir David is not held accountable for the failings by the report.
He helped appoint Martin Yeates as chief executive of the Trust even though he had no managerial training.
During the inquiry Mr Yeates failed to give evidence in person due to stress-related illness, with his solicitor claiming he 'would probably never work again'.
But he was later named as the boss of the Shropshire alcohol abuse charity, which works across the county.
