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NHS Chief Executives

24 March 2009

Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): As I was in Northern Ireland on parliamentary business when the Secretary of State made his statement last week, may I make it plain that my constituents are acutely concerned about this report? We want to restore the confidence and trust that this hospital used to enjoy—it was a good hospital and it did have a good reputation. Would not the quickest way to do that be to have an expeditious public inquiry, so that all the facts and the reasons can come out and we can then go forward under a new regime?

Alan Johnson: I believe the phrase "expeditious public inquiry" is a contradiction in terms, but I accept what the hon. Gentleman said. Indeed, I was very moved by the contribution of the shadow Chief Whip, the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin), at last week's business questions—he pointed out that his mother had died in that hospital, having received excellent care. We have to ensure that the hon. Gentleman's constituents and those of my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney), and other people who use that hospital are reassured that what the Healthcare Commission has said, in terms, in its report—that there has been drastic improvement, not least because of a huge increase in staff; staffing was at the core of the problems—is indeed the case. That is why I have asked Professor Alberti to make a very swift report and to report back to Parliament in five weeks' time.