The Coalition Government has announced new rules to prevent cases of poor care being covered up. The announcement comes as part of the Coalition's response to the public inquiry into the failings at Mid Staffordshire hospital.

Robert Francis QC, who led the inquiry, recommended that there should be a legal duty of candour to ensure that patients and families are informed if treatment or care has caused death or serious injury.

The Coalition Government has also announced there will be a new role of Chief Inspector of Social Care to oversee the care received by elderly and vulnerable people, whether care homes or in their own home, and to improve standards.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb said:

"This is a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment that we are delivering on in Coalition. Poor care is simply unacceptable and staff at every level have a professional duty to speak up about it - and we will support them in doing so.

"The last Labour Government ignored calls from the Liberal Democrats and campaigners to introduce a duty of candour.

"The new statutory duty of candour sends a very clear message about the importance of transparency and openness in the NHS.

"The Liberal Democrats are building a stronger economy and a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life. And it's because we want to make society fairer that we have campaigned for rules to prevent cover ups of poor care."

The announcement has been welcomed by campaigners Action against Medical Accidents, with Chief Executive Peter Walsh commenting on Radio 4's Today Programme: "This would be probably the biggest advance in patient safety and patients' rights in the history of the NHS."