Failing hospital 'caused deaths,' NHS watchdog says

An NHS watchdog has found that Stafford Hospital's "appalling" emergency care prompted the deaths of hundreds of patients between 2005 and 2008. According to the Healthcare Commission, deficiencies were discovered in nearly every stage of emergency care at the facility, as managers pursued targets at the detriment of patient care. Among mistakes found to be made at the hospital was the regular use of receptionists to conduct initial checks on patients.