MPs have called for an investigation into allegations the Labour party covered up failings at Basildon Hospital.

Newly-released emails show health ministers stopped the Care Quality Commission releasing devastating findings following an inspection in 2009.

The Department of Health told the CQC not to publish a report in November 2009 which showed patients were dying from poor care at Basildon Hospital.

Blood was found on curtains and chairs and catheters were left on the floor but the hospital, in Nethermayne, still displayed a good rating on the watchdog's website

In one email, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, Jill Finney, then director of engagement at the CQC, said: "We arguably sat on a highly sensitive safety issue for six months before informing patients and the public who believe they 'have a right to know. We knew that the Commission had been looking at trust for a long time and that we had had concerns about poor care since May."
 

Tory MPs Stephen Metcalfe, John Baron and Jackie Doyle- Price have demanded the Labour party and CQC are made to answer tough questions.

A CQC spokesman said: "We can't comment on emails sent some years ago between people who are no longer involved with CQC."