Police and prosecutors are reportedly examining new evidence about the Stafford Hospital scandal that could lead to criminal charges.

Matthew Ellis, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, said detectives were examining “information not in the public domain” relating to deaths at the hospital.

Mr Ellis said “every single piece of information” would be examined.

He said: “There is more information that is not in the public domain that is going to be used to identify individuals who should be looked at.

“They will use every single piece of information, published and not published.

“The police are going to look at absolutely everything, every piece of information it is possible to get.”

It was believed that some of the information being considered came from inquests into deaths at the hospital.

Mr Ellis said he wanted the people responsible for what happened to be held to account and told police to act quickly.

The Francis report highlighted the “appalling and unnecessary suffering of hundreds of patients” at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust between 2005 and 2009.

Patients were left for hours sitting in their own faeces, while food and drink was left out of reach, and hygiene was so poor that relatives cleaned toilets themselves.

Prime Minister David Cameron apologised for the “dreadful” mistreatment and neglect.