Ben Bradshaw 'sorry' over Stafford Hospital

Former Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw, attended the public inquiry into the failings of Stafford Hospital on Wednesday.

Outside the building, Mr Bradshaw said: "I am desperately sorry for what happened here."

In his evidence to the inquiry, he said that he was aware that the Healthcare Commission was investigating the Mid Staffordshire Trust, but did not intervene because he wanted to allow investigators to get on with the job.

The inquiry heard that he did not know about the lack of communication between the commission and Monitor, which meant the latter was not made aware of concerns about death rates at the trust.

Mr Bradshaw also said he was shocked by the lack of complaints from local people.