Healthcare Commission Report on NHS Ratings
Patients Association response to the Healthcare Commission Report
The Patients Association applauds the Healthcare Commission’s loss of patience with robust attitudes to poor NHS care, revealed in its final healthcheck today.
Katherine Murphy said “something is very wrong with rapid access to GPs and through them to the rest of the NHS. The Healthcare Commission’s figure of 31% (seeing their GP within 48 hours) matches almost exactly the Patient Association's findings (in its latest survey of 31.9%)”. If GPs wish to remain the main gatekeeper to the NHS, then they must view this report as a final warning.
With more Managers than Clinicians, patients are entitled to a better service than ‘Management by mystery shopper’. While GPs are paid more to do less, real patients are saying loud and clear that they are getting an inferior service.
After all the tax payers’ money that has been poured into the NHS, not a single patient should be forced to rely on “fair” or “weak” Trusts providing that care. It is disgraceful that some Trusts are still failing to meet the Government standards on infection control, and have not met the 3 year target to cut MRSA rates despite a vast amount of money invested.
The NHS must stop being run for the benefit of its Managers. It should be run for its patients by people who understand the meaning of Service in a National Health Service.
What is the point of Strategic Health Authorities who preside over such a poor service in their areas if they continue to allow any Trust to be classified as “weak” or “fair”.
This final report of the Healthcare Commission should be the start of a new get tough attitude by the Care Quality Commission. The Government has a duty to patients to put all these things right.
ENDS
For more information, please contact Katherine Murphy on 020 8423 9111 or 07779 004898
