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| Andy Burnham and Andrew Lansley drawn into CQC row | Andy Burnham and Andrew Lansley drawn into CQC row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two former health secretaries have been drawn into the row over how health watchdogs failed to properly investigate the deaths of up to 16 babies and two mothers at an NHS trust. | Two former health secretaries have been drawn into the row over how health watchdogs failed to properly investigate the deaths of up to 16 babies and two mothers at an NHS trust. |
| Labour's Andy Burnham denied putting pressure on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to play down safety concerns, and Andrew Lansley, the Conservative who succeeded him, denied claims by the CQC whistleblower Kay Sheldon that appeals to the government about poor standards at the commission were dismissed. | Labour's Andy Burnham denied putting pressure on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to play down safety concerns, and Andrew Lansley, the Conservative who succeeded him, denied claims by the CQC whistleblower Kay Sheldon that appeals to the government about poor standards at the commission were dismissed. |
| Sheldon said she had been left to be "bullied, isolated and victimised" for her attempts to reveal shortcomings at the commission, where she is still a board member. | Sheldon said she had been left to be "bullied, isolated and victimised" for her attempts to reveal shortcomings at the commission, where she is still a board member. |
| As the furore over the Morecambe Bay trust in Cumbria showed no sign of abating, a local MP called for an independent inquiry set up by the NHS into events at the trust to start immediately. | As the furore over the Morecambe Bay trust in Cumbria showed no sign of abating, a local MP called for an independent inquiry set up by the NHS into events at the trust to start immediately. |
| Labour's John Woodock, whose Barrow and Furness constituency contains Furness general hospital, part of the trust, said: "The latest evidence on the CQC cover-up show why the stalled independent inquiry into failings at Morecambe Bay should begin right now and be widened to include the CQC cover-up in March last year. | Labour's John Woodock, whose Barrow and Furness constituency contains Furness general hospital, part of the trust, said: "The latest evidence on the CQC cover-up show why the stalled independent inquiry into failings at Morecambe Bay should begin right now and be widened to include the CQC cover-up in March last year. |
| "The Grant Thornton report last week made clear it had not found any evidence of political pressure being applied during the flawed registration process in 2010 but the authors did believe that apparent suppression of a damning internal review in March last year 'may constitute a broader and ongoing cover-up'. | "The Grant Thornton report last week made clear it had not found any evidence of political pressure being applied during the flawed registration process in 2010 but the authors did believe that apparent suppression of a damning internal review in March last year 'may constitute a broader and ongoing cover-up'. |
| "The more questions that are raised about this murky business, the more important it becomes to investigate it further – including who outside the CQC was aware and what they did." | "The more questions that are raised about this murky business, the more important it becomes to investigate it further – including who outside the CQC was aware and what they did." |
| The Sunday Telegraph said it had seen documents suggesting, it alleged, that Labour put pressure on the CQC before the 2010 election to restore public confidence in the NHS. | The Sunday Telegraph said it had seen documents suggesting, it alleged, that Labour put pressure on the CQC before the 2010 election to restore public confidence in the NHS. |
| Roger Davidson, former head of media and public affairs for the CQC, was reportedly forced out of his job just before the election after revealing how a quarter of NHS trusts failed to meet basic hygiene standards. The newspaper said he was forced to sign a gagging order when he left and was told that the CQC was "railing against" his action to "highlight issues". | Roger Davidson, former head of media and public affairs for the CQC, was reportedly forced out of his job just before the election after revealing how a quarter of NHS trusts failed to meet basic hygiene standards. The newspaper said he was forced to sign a gagging order when he left and was told that the CQC was "railing against" his action to "highlight issues". |
| David Morris, the Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, asked Burnham in an open letter how much pressure he had put on the CQC to tone down criticism of hospitals. | |
| Burnham told Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News: "I never said to the CQC: 'Don't say that, do say the other.' That wasn't my role, they were an independent regulator. | Burnham told Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News: "I never said to the CQC: 'Don't say that, do say the other.' That wasn't my role, they were an independent regulator. |
| "The central allegation that I was kind of in that period trying to say don't do anything, don't say anything, don't bring any problems out, keep them all hidden, is fundamentally disproved by the decisions I took in relation to the expediting the registration of hospitals." | "The central allegation that I was kind of in that period trying to say don't do anything, don't say anything, don't bring any problems out, keep them all hidden, is fundamentally disproved by the decisions I took in relation to the expediting the registration of hospitals." |
| Burnham said the "cover-up" over Morecambe Bay "happened on this government's watch, not on our watch". He added: "I do think you need to be putting some of these questions to the current government. We know that the whistleblower went to the last secretary of state with concerns. What action was taken on those concerns?" | Burnham said the "cover-up" over Morecambe Bay "happened on this government's watch, not on our watch". He added: "I do think you need to be putting some of these questions to the current government. We know that the whistleblower went to the last secretary of state with concerns. What action was taken on those concerns?" |
| Sheldon, the whistleblower who gave evidence at the public inquiry into a separate scandal at the Mid-Staffordshire trust, criticised the health department's attitude under Lansley. | Sheldon, the whistleblower who gave evidence at the public inquiry into a separate scandal at the Mid-Staffordshire trust, criticised the health department's attitude under Lansley. |
| She said in the Mail on Sunday: "I was asked by the Department of Health to stop going to board meetings, and I discovered that chairman Dame Jo Williams had written to then health secretary Andrew Lansley asking him to remove me from my position. | She said in the Mail on Sunday: "I was asked by the Department of Health to stop going to board meetings, and I discovered that chairman Dame Jo Williams had written to then health secretary Andrew Lansley asking him to remove me from my position. |
| "When I persisted on going to board meetings, other colleagues closed ranks and would speak to me only when they absolutely had to – the atmosphere was horrendous. I then discovered that Jo Williams had commissioned a mental health report on me and even made a doctor's appointment for me behind my back. She later resigned over this." | "When I persisted on going to board meetings, other colleagues closed ranks and would speak to me only when they absolutely had to – the atmosphere was horrendous. I then discovered that Jo Williams had commissioned a mental health report on me and even made a doctor's appointment for me behind my back. She later resigned over this." |
| Lansley told Sky News: "I didn't dismiss Kay Sheldon from the CQC board and did give her access to whistleblower status." He refused to comment on Burnham's comments, saying he had not seen the interview. "I think the last thing the people who have suffered at Morecambe Bay trust or who need confidence rebuilding in the NHS … the last thing they want to see is a political ding-dong about this," he said. | Lansley told Sky News: "I didn't dismiss Kay Sheldon from the CQC board and did give her access to whistleblower status." He refused to comment on Burnham's comments, saying he had not seen the interview. "I think the last thing the people who have suffered at Morecambe Bay trust or who need confidence rebuilding in the NHS … the last thing they want to see is a political ding-dong about this," he said. |
| Lansley said the coalition had taken substantial steps to turn around the CQC and help Morecambe Bay trust. The health department said in a statement that Lansley had ordered a review to establish the facts about how Sheldon's "raising of concerns about the CQC were handled, taking into account all perspectives". | Lansley said the coalition had taken substantial steps to turn around the CQC and help Morecambe Bay trust. The health department said in a statement that Lansley had ordered a review to establish the facts about how Sheldon's "raising of concerns about the CQC were handled, taking into account all perspectives". |
| The commission said: "'We have acknowledged that a dysfunctional relationship between the board and the executive contributed to some of Kay Sheldon's concerns not being considered as they should have. Poor relationships led to a breakdown of trust, which is why CQC has taken steps to strengthen both the board and the executive team. | The commission said: "'We have acknowledged that a dysfunctional relationship between the board and the executive contributed to some of Kay Sheldon's concerns not being considered as they should have. Poor relationships led to a breakdown of trust, which is why CQC has taken steps to strengthen both the board and the executive team. |
| "CQC chair David Prior publicly thanked Kay Sheldon at the public board meeting. This symbolises the different approach taken by the board and the new executive team." | "CQC chair David Prior publicly thanked Kay Sheldon at the public board meeting. This symbolises the different approach taken by the board and the new executive team." |
| The health service ombudsman has confirmed that it was looking into the behaviour of the now-abolished NHS North West strategic health authority at the time of the failings at Furness general hospital, but would not comment on the details of its investigations. Mike Farrar, now chief executive of the NHS Confederation, representing trusts, formerly led NHS North West. | The health service ombudsman has confirmed that it was looking into the behaviour of the now-abolished NHS North West strategic health authority at the time of the failings at Furness general hospital, but would not comment on the details of its investigations. Mike Farrar, now chief executive of the NHS Confederation, representing trusts, formerly led NHS North West. |