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No more covering up errors, NHS told No more covering up errors, NHS told
(35 minutes later)
The NHS will have a legal duty to be honest about mistakes as part of an overhaul of the system in the wake of the Stafford Hospital scandal.The NHS will have a legal duty to be honest about mistakes as part of an overhaul of the system in the wake of the Stafford Hospital scandal.
The move is part of a package of measures to put patients at the heart of the health service, ministers said.The move is part of a package of measures to put patients at the heart of the health service, ministers said.
There will also be a new ratings system for hospitals and care homes, while changes to nurse training will be piloted.There will also be a new ratings system for hospitals and care homes, while changes to nurse training will be piloted.
It comes after the public inquiry claimed patients had been "betrayed".It comes after the public inquiry claimed patients had been "betrayed".
The harrowing neglect and abuse at the hospital between 2005 to 2008 which led to needless deaths has already been well documented.The harrowing neglect and abuse at the hospital between 2005 to 2008 which led to needless deaths has already been well documented.
Statistics at the time showed there were between 400 and 1,200 more deaths than would be expected.Statistics at the time showed there were between 400 and 1,200 more deaths than would be expected.
The £13m inquiry, published at the start of February, focused on why the problems were not picked up sooner.The £13m inquiry, published at the start of February, focused on why the problems were not picked up sooner.
It accused the NHS of putting corporate self-interest ahead of patients, concluding the failings went from the top to the bottom of the system.It accused the NHS of putting corporate self-interest ahead of patients, concluding the failings went from the top to the bottom of the system.
'Fundamental change''Fundamental change'
In total, the report made 290 recommendations.In total, the report made 290 recommendations.
Ministers have not responded individually to each one.Ministers have not responded individually to each one.
But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the response on Tuesday marked the start of a "fundamental change to the system".But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the response on Tuesday marked the start of a "fundamental change to the system".
"We cannot merely tinker around the edges - we need a radical overhaul with high quality care and compassion at its heart.""We cannot merely tinker around the edges - we need a radical overhaul with high quality care and compassion at its heart."
He said he wanted to create a culture of "zero harm" through the changes.He said he wanted to create a culture of "zero harm" through the changes.
Key to this will be the new post of chief inspector of hospitals - announced immediately after the publication of the public inquiry - and the statutory duty of the NHS to be honest about mistakes, known as a duty of candour.Key to this will be the new post of chief inspector of hospitals - announced immediately after the publication of the public inquiry - and the statutory duty of the NHS to be honest about mistakes, known as a duty of candour.
The government has stopped short of the inquiry's recommendation for a registration system for health care assistants. But the government said it would wait before deciding whether to make individual doctors and nurses criminally accountable for hiding mistakes as recommended by the inquiry as it was concerned about creating a "culture of fear".
The government has also stopped short of the inquiry's demand for a registration system for health care assistants.
Instead, it confirmed it will push ahead with a code of conduct and minimum training standards.Instead, it confirmed it will push ahead with a code of conduct and minimum training standards.
On training for nurses, ministers said there would be a pilot programme whereby nurses will have to work for up to a year as a healthcare assistant before getting NHS funding for their degree.On training for nurses, ministers said there would be a pilot programme whereby nurses will have to work for up to a year as a healthcare assistant before getting NHS funding for their degree.
Meanwhile, managers who fail in their jobs will be barred from holding such positions in the future.
The ratings system, which will start being rolled out later this year, will be based on the Ofsted system used in schools.
Hospital and care homes will be given an outstanding, good, requiring improvement or poor rating.
However, in hospitals individual departments will be given their own rating as well to reflect the increased complexity of the organisations.
But shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the culture of the NHS would not be changed unless staffing problems were resolved first.
A recent report by the Care Quality Commission found that 17 hospitals had "dangerously low" staffing levels.
"We will never get the right culture on our wards if they are understaffed and overstretched," Mr Burnham said.
But Don Redding, policy director of the patient group National Voices, felt the changes would make a difference, particularly the duty of candour.
"In cases where patients have been harmed or worse, both senior managers and their legal advisers have generally decided their first duty is to the interests of the trust. This new legal duty will rebalance that."