This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20924654

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Stafford Hospital: Report to suggest 'sweeping' NHS change Failing NHS bosses will go - Jeremy Hunt
(about 2 hours later)
Fundamental changes to the way NHS staff are trained are expected to be recommended by an inquiry into hundreds of deaths at Stafford Hospital. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned that NHS managers cannot expect to keep their jobs if they preside over failings in care.
The href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/heal-our-hospitals/9783017/Stafford-Hospital-scandal-deaths-force-NHS-reforms.html" >Sunday Telegraph and href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Health/article1189101.ece" >Sunday Times say it will call for poor managers to be replaced, and for better staff training. Mr Hunt, href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/heal-our-hospitals/9782598/Stafford-Hospital-scandal-betrayed-the-NHS-says-health-secretary.html" >writing in the Sunday Telegraph, said "proper accountability" was needed in the health service.
The inquiry probed a period between 2005 and 2009, when hundreds died as a result of treatment at the hospital. He was writing ahead of a report into failings at Stafford Hospital, which is expected to be published within months.
The Department of Health said the newspaper reports were speculation. Hundreds of patients died as a result of their treatment at the hospital between 2005 and 2009.
Stafford Hospital said the "terrible care" received during that period was not representative of the care patients now received at the hospital. A public inquiry has been looking at how the failures in care were allowed to happen by managers and regulators.
'Culture of fear' Ahead of its report, Mr Hunt called for "total openness and transparency when things go wrong", and a change of culture to give greater priority to compassion.
The inquiry, established by the coalition in 2010 and chaired by Robert Francis QC, sat for 139 days, cost £10m and considered about a million pages of evidence. 'Happy staff'
It was prompted by a 2009 Healthcare Commission (HC) report, which listed a catalogue of failings including receptionists assessing patients arriving at A&E and a shortage of nurses and senior doctors. "Just as a manager wouldn't expect to keep their job if they lost control of their finances nor should they expect to keep it if they lose control of the care in their organisation either," he went on.
The stories that have emerged from Stafford Hospital scandal have been horrifying. "And that means above all happy and motivated staff - something that is always a priority in successful NHS organisations or indeed any other organisation as well.
The stories that have emerged from the Stafford Hospital scandal have been horrifying.
But this is about much more than one bad hospital. It goes to the heart of the NHS.But this is about much more than one bad hospital. It goes to the heart of the NHS.
Why and how is a culture of poor care allowed to develop and then persist? Why and how is a culture of poor care allowed to develop in some corners of the NHS, and then persist?
Stafford was monitored by local and regional health managers and a host of patient safety agencies and regulators.Stafford was monitored by local and regional health managers and a host of patient safety agencies and regulators.
Doctors and nurses working there were part of professional bodies.Doctors and nurses working there were part of professional bodies.
We know from recent reports from the likes of the Patients Association and Care Quality Commission that such lapses are not unique to this one hospital.We know from recent reports from the likes of the Patients Association and Care Quality Commission that such lapses are not unique to this one hospital.
Many are now hoping the Francis Inquiry will provide a clear vision for how such poor standards can be eradicated once and for all.Many are now hoping the Francis Inquiry will provide a clear vision for how such poor standards can be eradicated once and for all.
"Most of all we need a change of culture.
"Patients must never be treated as numbers but as human beings, indeed human beings at their frailest and most vulnerable."
The Patients Association backed Mr Hunt's comments, saying "managers and boards must be held accountable for what goes on within their trusts and the appropriate action must be taken".
The inquiry, established by the coalition in 2010 and chaired by Robert Francis QC, sat for 139 days, cost £10m and considered about a million pages of evidence.
It was prompted by a 2009 Healthcare Commission (HC) report, which listed a catalogue of failings including receptionists assessing patients arriving at A&E and a shortage of nurses and senior doctors.
Managers were found to have been distracted by targets and cost-cutting, and regulators were accused of failing to pick up problems quickly enough, despite warnings from staff and patients.Managers were found to have been distracted by targets and cost-cutting, and regulators were accused of failing to pick up problems quickly enough, despite warnings from staff and patients.
The inquiry looked not just at Stafford Hospital, but at the way the NHS as a whole is managed. Its findings are due to be published later this month. Mr Hunt said the events at Stafford represented "the most shocking betrayal of NHS founding values in its history".
According to the Sunday Telegraph, it will deliver a damning verdict on the entire NHS.
It says it will describe a "culture of fear" in which pressure was piled on staff to put the demands of managers before the needs of patients.
The newspaper claims the report will call for greater regulation of NHS management after "systemic" failings, and an overhaul of training for nurses and health assistants.
It also claims about 41 doctors and 29 nurses working at the hospital have escaped serious punishment, despite complaints being lodged with their professional bodies.
The Sunday Times says the report will recommend a statutory "duty of candour" which would oblige hospitals to inform patients or their relatives when treatment has gone wrong.
It says the inquiry will recommend that hospitals which cover up mistakes by doctors and nurses should be fined and even closed down in some cases.
Julie Bailey, who's mother Bella died in Stafford hospital, spearheaded the campaign Cure the NHS which demanded the government hold a public inquiry.
She told the BBC that only "robust recommendations" from Mr Francis would solve the problems at Stafford hospital and in the wider NHS.
"We want to see a quality and safety system implemented. The regulation of doctors and nurses did not achieve anything, nobody has been held to account for those failings."
'Change of culture'
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the events at Stafford represented "the most shocking betrayal of NHS founding values in its history".
"We need proper accountability from those running NHS institutions. It is tough and often thankless being an NHS manager; despite which most do an excellent job.
"Most of all we need a change of culture. Patients must never be treated as numbers but as human beings, indeed human beings at their frailest and most vulnerable."
He pledged to introduce a system of patient feedback - which would be published - whereby every hospital in-patient will be asked whether they would recommend the care they received to family or friends.He pledged to introduce a system of patient feedback - which would be published - whereby every hospital in-patient will be asked whether they would recommend the care they received to family or friends.
He wrote that greater "openness and transparency when things go wrong" was required and said the Department of Health would "listen carefully" to inquiry findings. 'Robust recommendations'
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients' Association, said: "The changes necessary will only be achieved through a change in attitude and a commitment from management to training and adequate staffing levels, all within a culture of transparency and accountability - and the patients need to be put at the centre of the service."
BBC health correspondent Branwen Jeffreys says the inquiry report may well call for a rethink on the regulation of healthcare, although our correspondent says there could be a limited appetite for that within government as the NHS in England is in the middle of a massive reorganisation.
Julie Bailey, whose mother Bella died in Stafford hospital, spearheaded the campaign Cure the NHS which demanded the government hold a public inquiry.
She told the BBC that only "robust recommendations" from Mr Francis would solve the problems at Stafford hospital and in the wider NHS.
"We want to see a quality and safety system implemented.
"The regulation of doctors and nurses did not achieve anything; nobody has been held to account for those failings."
'Terrible care'
Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust looks after Stafford and Cannock Chase Hospitals.Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust looks after Stafford and Cannock Chase Hospitals.
Last month, a panel appointed by the regulator Monitor said the trust was "unsustainable" in its present form.Last month, a panel appointed by the regulator Monitor said the trust was "unsustainable" in its present form.
Lyn Hill-Tout, chief executive at the trust, said in a statement: "The Care Quality Commission lifted all concerns it had about Stafford Hospital in July 2012.Lyn Hill-Tout, chief executive at the trust, said in a statement: "The Care Quality Commission lifted all concerns it had about Stafford Hospital in July 2012.
"Our mortality rates are second best out of 41 Trusts in the Midlands and East of England region and have been consistently better than the level expected for the last few years."Our mortality rates are second best out of 41 Trusts in the Midlands and East of England region and have been consistently better than the level expected for the last few years.
"None of our patients has acquired MRSA infection in hospital since February 2012 and our Clostridium Difficile rate continues to fall year on year.""None of our patients has acquired MRSA infection in hospital since February 2012 and our Clostridium Difficile rate continues to fall year on year."
She added that nursing standards had been improved by the introduction of ward sisters, and staffing levels were constantly monitored to ensure enough trained staff are on duty at all times.She added that nursing standards had been improved by the introduction of ward sisters, and staffing levels were constantly monitored to ensure enough trained staff are on duty at all times.
"The terrible care received between 2005 and 2009 is not representative of the care patients now receive in our hospital."The terrible care received between 2005 and 2009 is not representative of the care patients now receive in our hospital.
"We are not complacent, we know we don't get it right every time, but we do not hide the facts when things are not as good as what we would want them to be," she added. "We are not complacent, we know we don't get it right every time, but we do not hide the facts when things are not as good as what we would want them to be."