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CQC head David Prior warns NHS will 'go bust' without radical culture change CQC head David Prior warns NHS will 'go bust' without radical culture change
(7 months later)
A radical shift in the culture of the NHS is needed to rid it of A radical shift in the culture of the NHS is needed to rid it of outdated working practices, cure it of widespread bullying and heal the damaging rift between managers and clinicians, the head of its official regulator has warned.
outdated working practices, cure it of widespread bullying and heal the David Prior, chairman of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), called for serious "transformational change" of the health service, without which it will "go bust".
damaging rift between managers and clinicians, the head of its official Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Prior called for greater input from the private sector, the merging of hospitals and changes to the way the NHS is held to account – particularly, the scrapping of waiting targets.
regulator has warned. He highlighted the "alarming" revelation that a survey of 100,000 NHS staff found one in four had been bullied. He described the NHS as having a culture that "stigmatises and ostracises" whistleblowers who raise concerns or complaints.
David Prior, chairman of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), His warning comes at a time when the NHS is struggling to emerge from crises such as the Mid-Staffs scandal, where hundreds of patients died and suffered neglect, as well as facing rising costs and an ageing population.
called for serious "transformational change" of the health service, Prior, a former MP and deputy chairman of the Conservative party, who was appointed to run the CQC last year, said: "Too often it [the NHS] delights in the ritual humiliation of those deemed to fail, tolerates and institutionalises outdated working practices and old-fashioned hierarchies, and can almost encourage 'managers' and 'clinicians' to occupy opposing camps.
without which it will "go bust". "I have worked in the NHS for 12 years. I love it – I am often overwhelmed by the kindness, care and skills of its staff – and yet am too often shocked by some of the behaviour I see."
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Prior called for greater input He described a "them and us" relationship between hospital managers and clinicians, a dangerous rift he said needed "radically altering" to avoid jeopardising patients' safety and blocking care improvements.
from the private sector, the merging of hospitals and changes to the way Prior called for a major restructuring in healthcare provision, with more successful hospitals taking over failing ones, shared services, improved community services and better care outside hospitals.
the NHS is held to account – particularly, the scrapping of waiting More competition – with more entrants into the market from private companies, the voluntary sector and other care providers – was needed to drive up standards, and measures of hospital performance needed to change, he said.
targets. "We need the government to change the way it holds the NHS to account: an end to trusts being blindsided by waiting targets that miss the point, skew priorities and have unintended consequences.
He highlighted the "alarming" revelation that a survey of 100,000
NHS staff found one in four had been bullied. He described the NHS
as having a culture that "stigmatises and ostracises" whistleblowers who
raise concerns or complaints.
His warning comes at a time when the NHS is struggling to emerge
from crises such as the Mid-Staffs scandal, where hundreds of patients
died and suffered neglect, as well as facing rising costs and an ageing
population.
Prior, a former MP and deputy chairman of the Conservative party,
who was appointed to run the CQC last year, said: "Too often it [the
NHS] delights in the ritual humiliation of those deemed to fail,
tolerates and institutionalises outdated working practices and
old-fashioned hierarchies, and can almost encourage 'managers' and
'clinicians' to occupy opposing camps.
"I have worked in the NHS for 12 years. I love it – I am often
overwhelmed by the kindness, care and skills of its staff – and yet am
too often shocked by some of the behaviour I see."
He described a "them and us" relationship between hospital
managers and clinicians, a dangerous rift he said needed "radically
altering" to avoid jeopardising patients' safety and blocking care
improvements.
Prior called for a major restructuring in healthcare provision,
with more successful hospitals taking over failing ones, shared
services, improved community services and better care outside hospitals.
More competition – with more entrants into the market from private companies, the voluntary sector and other care providers – was
needed to drive up standards, and measures of hospital performance needed
to change, he said.
"We need the government to change the way it holds the NHS to
account: an end to trusts being blindsided by waiting targets that miss
the point, skew priorities and have unintended consequences.
"Without serious change, the NHS will deliver poor care, and ultimately go bust.""Without serious change, the NHS will deliver poor care, and ultimately go bust."