David Cameron urged health chiefs to hold to account those responsible for the neglect of patients under the care of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust between 2005 and 2009.
Speaking during a trip to India, Cameron said it was unacceptable that no-one had been held responsible for the “appalling and unnecessary suffering of hundreds of patients” revealed in last week’s Francis Report.
The report revealed how staff, managers and professional bodies had all failed to expose the appalling neglect of mostly elderly patients over three years, which saw them denied the most basic care and attention.
However, Cameron said that any decision over criminal investigations and prosecutions was not to be made by him.
“One of the important points about the Mid-Staffordshire inquiry is to make sure, when a failure like this takes place, there is proper accountability,” he said.
“There hasn’t been in this case and we need to put it right.
“The Prime Minister can’t be responsible for ordering prosecutions,” he added.
“There are independent prosecuting authorities and independent police investigations.
“The Mid-Staffordshire inquiry has made available huge amounts of information and it is for others to consider what that means for them.”
Cameron calls for accountability in NHS neglect case
