Jeremy Hunt pledges 'a safer, more open' NHS

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the House of Commons that cruelty became the norm at Stafford hospital Credit: Reuters

The Health Secretary pledged to make the NHS a global beacon of care and openness in the wake of the Mid-Staffs scandal.

Jeremy Hunt said there'll be more honesty on nursing numbers, and neglect will be a crime.

But the families of patients at Stafford called it a missed opportunity to act on Robert Francis' report, saying it was vital whistle-blowers were given protection to speak out.

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said more action is required to raise standards.

Our Medical Editor Lawrence McGinty reports on the Government's plan for a safer, more honest NHS.

The charity Action Against Medical Accidents said it was "dismayed" that the legal duty of candour on organisations is to be restricted only to death or severe harm cases.

Some of the Stafford victims' families told our Correspondent Rageh Omaar what they thought of today's announcement.