Francis delivers his verdict

摘要

It is finally here. The long-awaited answer to the question of why the NHS system allowed appalling and shocking care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to remain undetected and without reprimand for so many years has been made public. While those seeking the sackings of high-profile NHS officials were left bitterly disappointed, the four volumes-strong report left no stone unturned and pulled no punches when it came to criticising doctors, nurses, managers, regulators and the wider NHS culture. A full 31 months ago, Robert Francis QC embarked on a ￡13 million public inquiry into up to 1,200 'unnecessary' deaths at Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2009 - his second and the fifth inquiry overall into the scandal.