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Scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust to be dissolved

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has agreed to dissolve the scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and move key services to neighbouring hospitals.

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  1. Lorna Prichard

Council says partners must now "pull together" to deliver the best NHS service for Staffordshire

Philip Atkins, Leader of Staffordshire County Council. Staffordshire County Council said the "terrible suffering" many endured at the hands of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust should never be forgotten, but it was now "absolutely crucial" to deliver the best service to people in Staffordshire.

Mr Atkins said: “While we shouldn’t ever draw a line under the Francis findings or forget the terrible suffering so many endured, I hope that together with our partners and crucially patients and their families, we can deliver an integrated health and social care service we can all be proud of.”

“While this will undoubtedly be a bitter blow for campaigners, it is also an opportunity to show how the county can now lead the way in demonstrating how integrated hospital and community care can be both delivered safely and meet the highest standards.

“The trust as it stood, was both financially and clinically unstable, and as a county council we have always recognised the difficult challenge facing the Trust Special Administrators, and I think they have acknowledged this too.

– Philip Atkins, Leader of Staffordshire County Council

The council leader added there were still "significant concerns" over Staffordshire's "financial fragility" and the wider impact this decision will have. But he said he was pleased the Health Secretary had commended the efforts staff had made to turn around the quality of care at the trust.

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Scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust to be dissolved

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