Patient charity: Keogh report 'too late'

It is scandalous that patients have lost their lives needlessly or been caused misery due to failings in basic care and the regulatory system that failed to act on warning signals.

The Keogh report has come too late for those patients. The hospitals concerned should have been investigated years ago when high mortality rates were already known about.

In spite of the Mid Staffordshire Inquiry, Ministers are still refusing to accept key recommendations such as minimum staffing levels for wards and regulation of healthcare assistants. We hope this report helps change their minds.