TEN more nurses were today arriving for work at crisis-hit Stafford Hospital in the wake of the damning Healthcare Commission report.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson, pictured below, has sent the 10 Department of Health agency nurses to the hospital as he responded to two more reports into the hospital scandal.

One of the reports, by National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care Sir George Alberti, found there had been improvements at the accident unit since the commission's report.

It included a £3.8 million investment in new staff, including nine matrons, 101 nurses, 38 doctors and 14 housekeepers since January last year, and more training. A further 20 nurses are being recruited.

But Sir George called for more nurses to ensure six are working on key wards during daytime shifts. He also said two more doctors were needed on the accident unit.

He also called for new equipment, regular audits into deaths and that patients see consultants quicker.

Following the reports, Mr Johnson said: "I've been assured there have been significant improvements at Stafford Hospital, but it's clear there is still more to do.

"The recommendations in these reports and the measures I've announced will support staff at Stafford Hospital."

As well as the new nurses, Mr Johnson has also sent a nurse manager, a further matron for night shifts and a training manager to Stafford.

The Healthcare Commission revealed in March that between 400 and 1,200 more patients died at Stafford Hospital than would have been expected over three years.

It blamed "appalling" care standards, along with a management board focused more on hitting targets than patients' needs.

Following yesterday's two reports, Stafford Hospital chief executive Eric Morton said: "Professor Alberti's report states that many improvements have already been made at Stafford Hospital but much still needs to be done."

But Julie Bailey, from Stafford, whose Cure the NHS campaign helped to reveal the problems at Stafford, said she was 'disappointed' with the report.

The 47-year-old, whose elderly mother died at the hospital in 2007, said: "George Alberti is saying the hospital is safe. But we were told that all last year by the Healthcare Commission when, in fact, it was not. How many reports are going to have to come out to get them to do what they have to do?"

The second report, written by National Director for Primary Care Dr David Colin-Thome, explored measures that should taken at all hospitals to guard against further problems.