Hunt concerned over 'pockets of failure' in NHS

Catastrophic failings that led to the deaths of hundreds of patients at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust may be occurring in hospitals elsewhere in the UK, the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, warns today.

Up to 1,200 lives were lost at Mid Staffordshire due to poor care. After two inquiries, a third, into the role of NHS regulators, is due in the new year.

But speaking on BBC1's Panorama, tonight, Mr Hunt, pictured, said: "We can't be confident other failings do not exist in pockets elsewhere in the NHS and social care system."

Latest Department of Health figures show 2,875 patients died and 7,585 suffered serious harm as a result of unsafe care in NHS hospitals in the year to March 2012.