Stafford Hospital was ranked among the best in Britain - having been awarded a coveted foundation status in 2008. But on closer inspection things are not so rosy.
For the previous six years, it had had one of the highest mortality rates in the country. The Royal College of Nursing believes this could only happen because the criterion used to decide which hospitals are awarded foundation status does not focus closely enough on patient safety.
The Health Care Commission launched an inquiry and concluded the hospital had appalling standards of care which put patients at risk.
Yet Stafford Hospital still has its foundation status because, until last week, the legislation did not exist for it to be withdrawn.
Even though patients and their families raised concerns with the hospital, the trust and the department of health, their cries were ignored.
In the end, the catalyst for the investigation came from the independent healthcare analysts, Dr Foster who first noticed Stafford Hospital's unusually high mortality figures in 2002. But it was another six years before the Health Care Commission launched an inquiry.
Rebecca Davis' grandmother Joyce Williams went into Stafford hospital in 2007 with a broken arm and a urine infection. She died from the urine infection which was not treated. Ms Davis fears if the system is not changed, the same mistakes could be repeated elsewhere in the country.
“It's definitely more than a local problem, it comes from the government it really does. It comes from the targets they put in place,” says Ms Davis. “The hospitals will do absolutely anything to meet the targets and even more to get foundation status.”
In a statement the Care Quality Commission which has replaced the Healthcare Commission said:
“The trust has made important progress since the period described in the Francis Report. Steps have been taken to address immediate risks to patients and the new leadership of the trust has responded positively. It is important to understand that the scale of change required in this organisation was very significant and was never going to happen overnight.”
Both the Chief Executive and the Chairman of Mid Staffordshire Trust resigned last year. However, Sir David Nicholson - who was the Chief Executive of the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority - is now the Chief Executive of the entire NHS. Cynthia Bower who took over from him in 2006 is now the head of the Care Quality Commission.
3 News / ITV News