07.02.13
DH and NHS CB outline action in response to Francis
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson have written to NHS staff, asking them to hold ‘listening events’, providing insights to help achieve a safer, more open and compassionate NHS.
Hunt described the publication of Francis’s report as “a moment of truth” that they must not shy away from, and added that he was “determined that this will not be another report to Government that creates a lot of short-term noise but no long-term change”.
Department of Health Permanent Secretary Una O’Brien added: “I would like to apologise wholeheartedly for the part the Department played in the failings at Mid Staffs and the terrible impact it had on patients, their families and the standards of care.
“We will take action on the recommendations from Robert Francis QC. We are committed to a renewed focus on putting patients at the centre of everything we do.”
The Government will respond fully next month.
The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) has already announced steps it is taking in response to the report. Medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh is t investigate five hospitals who have been outliers on the Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) data for two years to 2012.
The hospitals are:
Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust
Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Professor Sir Bruce said: “Each of the hospitals we identify today is already under scrutiny by regulators. This clinically-led and practical investigation will allow me to assure myself, Parliament and patients that these hospitals have everything they need to improve.”
Don Berwick, international healthcare expert, will be appointed to examine zero tolerance of harm and the NHS CB will develop the national quality dashboard to identify safety failures in providers.
A ‘Duty of Candour’ will be introduced into the NHS contract and the NHS CB has pledged to implement their ‘Compassion in Practice’ nursing strategy, and will begin publishing consultant level outcomes data in ten surgical specialties to improve transparency and accountability.
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(Image: PA Wire)