The hospital has begun a full investigation into the deaths An independent investigation has been launched into the deaths of baby twins at a scandal-hit NHS trust.
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Antony Sumara said everyone was “absolutely devastated” and a staff member had been suspended.
The Guardian reports that twin boys died at Stafford Hospital 11 days ago.
The hospital is the subject of a public inquiry into its “appalling” care after 400 more people died there between 2005 and 2008 than would be expected.
Mr Sumara said: “We are all absolutely devastated that the twins have passed away.
“Our deepest sympathy and our thoughts are with the parents and their loved ones at this most difficult time.
“We have commissioned a full external investigation into the events while the twins were at our hospital.
“This is under way and is being led by an independent paediatric doctor.
“At present we have suspended one member of staff.”
A spokeswoman for the hospital would not comment on the exact circumstances surrounding the boys’ deaths.
Peter Walsh, chief executive of patient safety charity Action Against Medical Accidents, said: “This is one of those awful, awful tragedies.
“It is impossible to say whether it has got anything to do with systemic problems at the trust or whether it is a tragic one-off.”
He added: “It is a dreadful, unimaginable tragedy for the family and it is yet another blow for morale at the trust at a time when it is already vulnerable.”
The public inquiry into the hospital’s failings got under way on Monday, following a long campaign by relatives of those who died.
The last government ordered a private investigation, but refused a wider public inquiry.
However the new coalition government said in June the families of those who died deserved to know what went wrong.
A 2009 Healthcare Commission report listed several failings including receptionists assessing patients arriving at A&E, a shortage of nurses and senior doctors and pressure on staff to meet targets.
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