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Mid Staffs: heads must roll Mid Staffs: heads must roll
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In the findings of the Mid Staffs public inquiry I hope to see accountability for the hundreds of unnecessary deaths at Stafford hospital between 2005 and 2009.In the findings of the Mid Staffs public inquiry I hope to see accountability for the hundreds of unnecessary deaths at Stafford hospital between 2005 and 2009.
The report from Robert Francis QC, published today, needs to send a clear signal that we can't have 400 to 1,200 people dying needlessly as a result of poor care and treatment without the resignation of key people who were running the NHS. Heads must roll – and those responsible must never again be allowed to hold public office. Sir David Nicholson, former NHS chief executive and now head of the NHS commissioning board, needs to resign. All these deaths at Stafford hospital were happening under his nose.The report from Robert Francis QC, published today, needs to send a clear signal that we can't have 400 to 1,200 people dying needlessly as a result of poor care and treatment without the resignation of key people who were running the NHS. Heads must roll – and those responsible must never again be allowed to hold public office. Sir David Nicholson, former NHS chief executive and now head of the NHS commissioning board, needs to resign. All these deaths at Stafford hospital were happening under his nose.
You only had to open a ward door at the hospital to smell the stench of urine, hear patients screaming in pain and see staff being bullied, and know that the care was appalling. But the people in charge chose not to do that.You only had to open a ward door at the hospital to smell the stench of urine, hear patients screaming in pain and see staff being bullied, and know that the care was appalling. But the people in charge chose not to do that.
In 2002, Dr Peter Daggett, a former senior doctor at the hospital, had already raised concerns that the hospital was out of control. In 2004 it went from a three-star rating to zero stars. But the trust was too focused on its finances and trying to achieve foundation status instead of caring for patients. The patient became meaningless.In 2002, Dr Peter Daggett, a former senior doctor at the hospital, had already raised concerns that the hospital was out of control. In 2004 it went from a three-star rating to zero stars. But the trust was too focused on its finances and trying to achieve foundation status instead of caring for patients. The patient became meaningless.
This shift away from patient care started to happened under the Labour government. It destroyed the culture of care in the NHS by replacing it with a top-down, target-driven culture. Former health secretary Andy Burnham contributed to this. He wouldn't even meet the grieving relatives at Stafford hospital and he only gave us a secret inquiry so that the NHS's dirty linen wouldn't be aired in public. Burnham must resign and have nothing more to do with health policy.This shift away from patient care started to happened under the Labour government. It destroyed the culture of care in the NHS by replacing it with a top-down, target-driven culture. Former health secretary Andy Burnham contributed to this. He wouldn't even meet the grieving relatives at Stafford hospital and he only gave us a secret inquiry so that the NHS's dirty linen wouldn't be aired in public. Burnham must resign and have nothing more to do with health policy.
In 2007, I set up Cure the NHS, a patient campaign group formed to highlight the poor care at Stafford Hospital, following the death of my 86-year-old mother, Bella, after she went in for a routine hernia operation.In 2007, I set up Cure the NHS, a patient campaign group formed to highlight the poor care at Stafford Hospital, following the death of my 86-year-old mother, Bella, after she went in for a routine hernia operation.
While we were campaigning outside, Peter Carter, head of the Royal College of Nursing, visited Stafford hospital. He wrote to our local newspapers saying what a good hospital it was, with good management and good staff. For him to do this he must also resign.While we were campaigning outside, Peter Carter, head of the Royal College of Nursing, visited Stafford hospital. He wrote to our local newspapers saying what a good hospital it was, with good management and good staff. For him to do this he must also resign.
My mum died in that hospital terrified of the people that should have cared for her. She was recovering from an operation when nurses dropped her and hurt her. After four days in the hospital I could see that unless I was there to feed and wash her she would have just been left without care. Even with me at her side, a nurse refused to administer a life-saving drug. My mother died a few hours later, eight weeks after going into hospital. She was a strong woman. She should never have died in there.My mum died in that hospital terrified of the people that should have cared for her. She was recovering from an operation when nurses dropped her and hurt her. After four days in the hospital I could see that unless I was there to feed and wash her she would have just been left without care. Even with me at her side, a nurse refused to administer a life-saving drug. My mother died a few hours later, eight weeks after going into hospital. She was a strong woman. She should never have died in there.
In 2010, the hospital apologised for my mother's death. But these are just hollow words. Until we have a quality and safety approach similar to the airline and construction industries which focuses on "zero harm" and a "right first time" approach, nothing will change.In 2010, the hospital apologised for my mother's death. But these are just hollow words. Until we have a quality and safety approach similar to the airline and construction industries which focuses on "zero harm" and a "right first time" approach, nothing will change.
I have said before that eight people a day die in the NHS because of medical errors. That is equivalent to nine or 10 aircraft a year crashing. We wouldn't accept that, but we allow a culture of inadequate safety to continue in the NHS.I have said before that eight people a day die in the NHS because of medical errors. That is equivalent to nine or 10 aircraft a year crashing. We wouldn't accept that, but we allow a culture of inadequate safety to continue in the NHS.
Every day I hear from people with stories about poor care in hospitals. Doctors already have duties to speak the truth. But until everyone working in the NHS champions the patient, and people who fail in this duty are held to account, I fear that another Mid Staffs is just waiting to happen.Every day I hear from people with stories about poor care in hospitals. Doctors already have duties to speak the truth. But until everyone working in the NHS champions the patient, and people who fail in this duty are held to account, I fear that another Mid Staffs is just waiting to happen.
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