Preparations for an inquiry into appaling standards at Stafford Hospital could be “detracting” from patient care, its chief executive claims.
The hearing, which is set to be begin in October, has caused over-stretched senior staff to spend hours planning and piecing together information.
More than 500 pieces of separate documentation have already been produced and sent to the inquiry team focusing on the hospital’s link with outside agencies and regulators.
The Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has also been forced to employ a legal team for the inquiry - the final cost of which has yet to be calculated.
During a meeting of the trust on Thursday, chief executive Antony Sumara critcised the fact the bill would have to be met by the taxpayer.
He said: “Robert Francis said he didn’t want the public inquiry to detract or to get us away from the main focus of continuing to improve the hospital.
“It’s created an enormous workload - which we didn’t really predict. The costs of employing counsel will have to be covered by the trust.
“It is extremely expensive. It is public money better off spent on caring for patients.” When health secretary Andrew Lansley announced the inquiry at the House of Commons in June, he expressed concern that staff were not distracted from front-line duties.
He said: “We cannot and should not underestimate the task still ahead and the attention of the trust must not be unduly diverted.
“That is why I am clear that this further inquiry should not go over ground already covered in the first Francis Inquiry and should, as far as is possible, ensure that it supports all those staff who are working so hard to bring about the changes that are necessary.” Mr Sumara told the board his initial understanding of the purpose of the inquiry was that it would focus more on scrutinising ouside bodies.
“The original intention around the public inquiry was we wouldn’t have a great deal of involvement. It was an inquiry about the external regulators.” Two inquiries into the hospital took place under the Labour Government.
But following repeated calls for witnesses to attend and be cross-examined, David Cameron announced a new probe earlier this year.
