Eleven babies and one mother died following "a lethal mix" of failures in a "seriously dysfunctional" maternity unit at Furness General Hospital, an independent inquiry has found.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has apologised to "every family that has suffered" as a result of "terrible failures" at Furness General Hospital.
A report published today said a "lethal mix" of problems at the "seriously dysfunctional" maternity unit led to the deaths of 11 babies and one mother.
He described the failings as like a "second Mid Staffs", in reference to the Mid Staffs Hospital scandal, where at least 1,200 patients died because of poor care.
Mr Hunt, who ordered the inquiry, paid tribute to the "courage" of families in their fight for the truth and said they should have been issued an apology earlier.
The Health Secretary said the failings had left "indescribable anguish for the families left behind", adding: "There is no greater pain for a parent than to lose a child and to do so knowing it was because of mistakes that we now know were covered up makes the agony even worse."
A man whose wife and son died at Furness General Hospital says he has never received an apology for failings which led to their deaths.
A "lethal mix" of poor clinical care and relationships between doctors and midwives led to the deaths of 11 babies and one mother.
A damning report out tomorrow is expected to reveal the deaths could have been prevented if staff had not been 'at loggerheads'.