Published: 16/04/2009 00:00 -
Updated: 30/12/2009 02:48
TORY leader David Cameron added his name to a 4,000-signature petition and vowed to fight for a public inquiry at the town's troubled hospital when he met with Cure the NHS members this week.
Mr Cameron spent an hour chatting with around 20 members of the group, led by Julie Bailey, at her Breaks Cafe business in Lichfield Road.
He was accompanied by shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley and Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for Stafford, Jeremy Lefroy.
The Government has so far refused an inquiry, with heatlh minister Alan Johnson describing the problems at Stafford, which may have caused at least 400 deaths, as isolated.
But relatives have been calling for an inquiry since the damning Healthcare Commission report was published in March.
This week Cure the NHS members told Mr Cameron about their horrific experiences at the hospital and the lack of care many of their relatives had received.
Mr Cameron said he was shocked by what he had heard and rushed to sign the petition calling for an inquiry, launched jointly by Cure the NHS and the Patients' Association.
And he also rubbished fears by Stafford Labour MP David Kidney that the issues at Stafford Hospital risked becoming a political football.
"We will fight hard for a public inquiry and you as members of Cure the NHS need to have a chance to speak," he said.
"I felt it was important to come here today and hear these things for myself.
"It is clear there was a catastrophic management failure and it is not right for the Government to say that this is an isolated incident.
"We have all read the stories, shocking and distressing in equal measure. We have all seen the pictures. We have all looked at the tribute wall - a reflection of the deep pain still felt by friends and family. But we cannot let the headlines of last month turn into a shrug of the shoulders today.
"We need to have a look at the target regime. We also have to look at the closed culture within our hospitals. There's too little information available to the public about the problems that exist meaning problems can be hushed up, brushed under the carpet and not exposed until it's far too late.
"I'm calling on this Government to launch a proper public inquiry into what happened here. There are things we, as Conservatives, can do, such as putting forward motions and debates.
"It is rubbish that this is becoming a political football. Mr Kidney can say what he likes but a public inquiry will be good for the NHS and we are going to help him campaign for it."
Mr Cameron visited Stafford Hospital in 2006 at a time when nurses were losing their jobs to save cash.
Asked if he had had concerns at the time, he added: "When you come as a visiting politician you meet some staff and some patients but are often not in the best place to get to the bottom of what is going on. That is why the publication of information is so important. If all you get is the information that they want you to publish it can be difficult."
Miss Bailey said she was impressed by Mr Cameron and felt optimistic.
"He has listened to us and wants to change things," she said. "People put their trust in the hospital and have been let down badly.
"We now have around 4,000 signatures on the petition and are pleased that David Cameron has signed it."
He was accompanied by shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley and Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for Stafford, Jeremy Lefroy.
The Government has so far refused an inquiry, with heatlh minister Alan Johnson describing the problems at Stafford, which may have caused at least 400 deaths, as isolated.
But relatives have been calling for an inquiry since the damning Healthcare Commission report was published in March.
This week Cure the NHS members told Mr Cameron about their horrific experiences at the hospital and the lack of care many of their relatives had received.
Mr Cameron said he was shocked by what he had heard and rushed to sign the petition calling for an inquiry, launched jointly by Cure the NHS and the Patients' Association.
And he also rubbished fears by Stafford Labour MP David Kidney that the issues at Stafford Hospital risked becoming a political football.
"We will fight hard for a public inquiry and you as members of Cure the NHS need to have a chance to speak," he said.
"I felt it was important to come here today and hear these things for myself.
"It is clear there was a catastrophic management failure and it is not right for the Government to say that this is an isolated incident.
"We have all read the stories, shocking and distressing in equal measure. We have all seen the pictures. We have all looked at the tribute wall - a reflection of the deep pain still felt by friends and family. But we cannot let the headlines of last month turn into a shrug of the shoulders today.
"We need to have a look at the target regime. We also have to look at the closed culture within our hospitals. There's too little information available to the public about the problems that exist meaning problems can be hushed up, brushed under the carpet and not exposed until it's far too late.
"I'm calling on this Government to launch a proper public inquiry into what happened here. There are things we, as Conservatives, can do, such as putting forward motions and debates.
"It is rubbish that this is becoming a political football. Mr Kidney can say what he likes but a public inquiry will be good for the NHS and we are going to help him campaign for it."
Mr Cameron visited Stafford Hospital in 2006 at a time when nurses were losing their jobs to save cash.
Asked if he had had concerns at the time, he added: "When you come as a visiting politician you meet some staff and some patients but are often not in the best place to get to the bottom of what is going on. That is why the publication of information is so important. If all you get is the information that they want you to publish it can be difficult."
Miss Bailey said she was impressed by Mr Cameron and felt optimistic.
"He has listened to us and wants to change things," she said. "People put their trust in the hospital and have been let down badly.
"We now have around 4,000 signatures on the petition and are pleased that David Cameron has signed it."
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