Mid-Staffs enquiry could cost £1 million, says chief executive

A public inquiry into failings at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust could end up costing the trust £1 million, according to the trust’s chief executive, Anthony Sumara.

Mr Sumara told the BBC: “£1m would open a ward for a year, it would get you 30 nurses for a year.

“Don't forget if you're paying for it in the public inquiry, it's a non-recurring figure so actually you only get it for the one year but we could buy a lot of equipment with £1m.”

Calls for a full public enquiry were answered by the new health secretary Andrew Lansley in June, following a massive public outcry following a Health Commission report into the trust’s failings in previous years.

Tell us what you think at opinion@nationalhealthexecutive.com