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NHS 'cover-up' names revealed by CQC | NHS 'cover-up' names revealed by CQC |
(35 minutes later) | |
The identities of the officials involved in the alleged cover-up by the NHS regulator of its failure to investigate deaths of babies at a Cumbria hospital have been revealed. | The identities of the officials involved in the alleged cover-up by the NHS regulator of its failure to investigate deaths of babies at a Cumbria hospital have been revealed. |
The Care Quality Commission has named former chief executive Cynthia Bower, her deputy Jill Finney and media manager Anna Jefferson. | The Care Quality Commission has named former chief executive Cynthia Bower, her deputy Jill Finney and media manager Anna Jefferson. |
They were all said to be present at a meeting where deletion of a critical report was discussed. | They were all said to be present at a meeting where deletion of a critical report was discussed. |
The move came after mounting pressure. | |
The alleged decision to block publication of the report - an internal review of the CQC's handling of its monitoring of Furness General Hospital - emerged on Wednesday when the regulator published a report it had commissioned from consultants Grant Thornton. | |
The firm was asked by the CQC to investigate its failure to spot the problems at the hospital run by the Morecambe Bay NHS Trust. | |
In 2010 it gave the hospital a clean bill of health despite problems emerging about the maternity unit. | In 2010 it gave the hospital a clean bill of health despite problems emerging about the maternity unit. |
More than 30 families have now taken legal action against the hospital in relation to baby and maternal deaths and injuries from 2008. | More than 30 families have now taken legal action against the hospital in relation to baby and maternal deaths and injuries from 2008. |
Grant Thornton found that in 2011 an internal review was ordered into how the problems had gone unnoticed. | Grant Thornton found that in 2011 an internal review was ordered into how the problems had gone unnoticed. |
But in March 2012 it was decided the findings should not be made public because the review was highly critical of the regulator. | But in March 2012 it was decided the findings should not be made public because the review was highly critical of the regulator. |
That order is said to have come from a senior manager. The allegation has been denied. | |
The Grant Thornton report said this "might well have constituted a deliberate cover-up". | The Grant Thornton report said this "might well have constituted a deliberate cover-up". |
'Good faith' | 'Good faith' |
The CQC initially removed the names of those involved, arguing it would be a breach of the Data Protection Act. | |
But this was then rejected by Information Commissioner Christopher Graham. | But this was then rejected by Information Commissioner Christopher Graham. |
He said: "What appeared to be going on yesterday was a sort of general duck-out saying, 'Oh, data protection, sorry can't help you,' that's all too common and in this case it certainly looked as if data protection really wasn't the issue. | |
"So far as the Data Protection Act is concerned, we all have a right to the protection of our personal privacy but if you are a senior official then there are issues about the point at which your privacy is set aside because of over-riding public interest. | |
"That's really the issue at stake here." | |
The CQC later agreed to review its decision to not name those involved, which then led to the release of the names. | |
Speaking ahead of their actual publication, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the decision by the CQC to reveal the names was very pleasing. | |
"I think this is a sign that the NHS is changing - because we've had a history of cover-ups going on many, many years and now what's happening is that when there was an issue the new management of the CQC immediately asked for an independent report. | |
"They published that report yesterday and now as I understand it they've got legal advice that says they can issue the names of the people mentioned in that report. | |
"And I think that's so important because there has to be accountability inside the NHS for people's actions and people have to know where the buck stops when something goes wrong." |