04.07.13
Prosecution warning for hospital managers
Care home and hospital managers could be prosecuted for failing to stop abuse and neglect taking place at their organisations, care minister Norman Lamb has announced.
Compulsory ‘fit and proper’ tests will prove their adequacy for the job, he said. Fines of up to £50,000 could be issued and the CQC’s powers to prosecute will be increased.
Currently, the CQC can only prosecute in cases where it has previously issued a warning notice that the provider has failed to comply with.
Lamb said: “Scandals like Winterbourne View and Mid-Staffs have damaged confidence in our health and care system. Part of our commitment to rebuilding that trust comes from making sure that people at all levels are held to account for failings when they occur.
“Whilst there must be a sharper focus on corporate accountability, more needs to be done to ensure those responsible for leading a care organisation are up to the job. I hope that providers and people who use services and their families will respond to this consultation as we look to take these proposals forward.”
CQC chief executive David Behan said: “Those who run health and care service are accountable for the quality and safety of the care they provide. People have a right to expect that care homes and hospitals meet basic standards of care.
“The power to prosecute, along with a ‘fit and proper’ person test for directors, gives people who use services greater assurance that poor care will be challenged and that they will receive safe and effective care.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]