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the written answer given to Mr. Mark Hoban on 3 April 2008, Official Report, column 288 W;
the written answer given to Mr. David Simpson on 25 February 2008, Official, Report column 1196W;
the written answer given to Mr. Norman Lamb on 5 February 2008, Official Report, column 1071W;
the written answer given to Sandra Gidley on 25 January 2008, Official Report, column 17MC;
the written answer given to Mr. Mark Simmonds on 3 December 2007, Official Report, column 1002W;
the written answer given to Sandra Gidley on 19 July 2007, Official Report, column 641W;
the written answer given to Mrs. Theresa May on 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 23 8W;
the written answer given to Mr. Lansley on 4 June 2007, Official Report, column 302W;
the written answer given to Mr. Mike Penning on 17 April 2007, Official Report, column 576W;
the written answer given to Mr. Lansley on 15 January 2007, Official Report, column 908W;
the written answer given to Mr. Swire on 6 December 2006, Official Report, column 568W;
the written answer given to Mr. Lansley on 8 November 2006, Official Report, column 1871W;
the written answer given to Mr. Hayes on 19 July 2006, Official Report, column 507W;
the written answer given to Justine Greening on 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 382W;
the written answer given to Mr. David T.C. Davies on 28 March 2006, Official Report, column 947W;
the written answer given to Mr. Weir on 28 March 2006, Official Report, column 947W;
the written answer given to Anne Milton on 20 March 2006, Official Report, column 138W;
the written answer given to Mr. Andrew Turner on 7 July 2005, Official Report, column 570W;
the written answer given to Mr. Burstow on 7 July 2005, Official Report, column 576W;
These answers all related to Department of Health advertising spend between 2004-05 and 2008-09. The incorrect information was a result of some non-advertising expenditure being included within the figures. There was also evidence that provisional figures rather than the final discounted totals had been used. In order to prevent this issue from recurring, improvements have been made in record keeping and processes in answering PQs on advertising spend.
The following table shows the correct departmental advertising expenditure over the last five completed financial years. A further breakdown of these figures has been placed in the Library.
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust
The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): On 17 March 2009, the Healthcare Commission, the independent health regulator, published a damning report into the failings of emergency care provided by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. Since then, the Government and the local NHS have had two priorities: first to ensure services at the trust improve as soon as possible to the level that patients and the public have a right to expect; and second to ensure the right lessons are learned both locally and nationally, so the events of Mid Staffordshire cannot be repeated.
The previous Secretary of State commissioned two rapid reviews from Professor Sir George Alberti the National Clinical Director for Emergency Care, on the present state of emergency services at the trust and Dr. David Colin-Thomé on how the broader system was not able to detect the failings sooner. All their recommendations were accepted and the reports were published, alongside the Government's response on 30 April 2009.
The new independent regulator for health and social care, the Care Quality Commission, has today published their three month stock-take report. In short, it concludes
there has been some progress, but there is much more to do. Its analysis echoes the concerns that Ministers have heard from members of the local community.
Having listened carefully to these concerns, I have resolved that further action is necessary. Today I am announcing a package of measures to lead to a step change in improving local services and to help heal the wounds of the past, so the trust and their local community can face the future together with renewed confidence and optimism.
I have worked closely with Monitor, the Foundation Trust regulator, to ensure a new leadership team with the skills and experience to transform services at the hospital is appointed as a matter of urgency. I am pleased to welcome Sir Stephen Moss, the new Chair, and Antony Sumara, the new chief executive, to their roles. Monitor and the Care Quality Commission will continue to oversee their progress, with a further review due in October.
Fundamental to the trust's success will be listening to patients, to ensure their voice counts and that they are an integral part of shaping and influencing the future of the hospital. That is why I have asked Dr. David Colin-Thomé to support and advise South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust to play their full part alongside the trust in reaching out and involving people locally.
It is clear from listening to those affected that rebuilding local confidence and restoring trust will take time. The full impact of what happened at Mid Staffordshire is revealed through the personal stories of those affected and it is clear to me that these experiences need to be properly aired if the local NHS is to learn and, in time, move on.
I have therefore decided, following detailed discussions between my Department and the new management of the trust, that it would be appropriate to set up a further independent inquiry. I do not believe it is necessary for this to be a full public inquiry, given the thoroughness of the reports already produced by the Healthcare Commission, Professor Sir George Alberti and David Colin-Thomé, as well as the availability of an independent clinical review to those who have concerns about the care they or a loved one received at the hospital.
This inquiry's focus will be on ensuring that patients or their families have an opportunity to raise their concerns. It is important, given the events of the past, for those who depend upon the care provided by the trust to be confident that they have been listened to and that any further lessons not already identified by the thorough inquiries that have already occurred be learned.
Robert Francis QC has agreed to chair the inquiry. The terms of reference (a full copy has been placed in the Library) will be:
to investigate any individual case relating to the care provided by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust between 2005 and 2008 that, in its opinion, causes concern and to the extent that it considers appropriate;
in the light of such investigation, to consider whether any additional lessons are to be learned beyond those identified by the inquiries conducted by the Healthcare Commission, Professor Alberti and Dr Colin-Thomé; and, if so,
to consider what additional action is necessary for the new hospital management to ensure the Trust is delivering a sustainably good service to its local population; and
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