“This report gives a sobering account of what happens when leadership, managerial and clinical, fails to focus on the things that really matter to patients and its recommendations are compelling.

“The circumstances at Mid Staffs were shocking and some of the most fundamental elements of care were neglected. The people running our hospitals understand that they have a duty to provide high quality care - targets are no excuse for failing to do this.

“Looking at ways of guaranteeing the highest professional standards for NHS leaders, considering the use of mortality data and reviewing how the regulatory system works all present opportunities to learn from the mistakes made. It is important everyone working in the NHS learns from them.

“We also support the Secretary of State’s decision to receive further information from Monitor and the CQC about the current situation in Mid Staffordshire, before asking Monitor to consider whether to de-authorise.

“The responsibility for the way this hospital was run rests with its board, management and staff but, as the report says, the framework of targets, regulatory systems and policy priorities it worked within are also very important.

“We must learn from the report and there must be consideration of how we might improve the regulatory process including the CQC and Monitor, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities, as well as the Department of Health itself.

“It is absolutely vital that hospital leaders are connected to what is going on in all parts of their organisations - particularly to the provision of clinical care. This requires the right systems and the promotion of an organisational culture that empowers staff.”