Response to findings of reports into NHS quality & regulation
17.02.10 For immediate release
In response to the findings of three reports commissioned by the Department of Health (Quality Oversight in England by the Joint Commission International, Achieving the Vision of Excellence in Quality by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and Developing, Disseminating and Assessing Standards in the National Health Service by Rand) published today Director of the Patients Association Katherine Murphy said:
“Despite denial after denial surely now the Department of Health must accept that these reports get to the heart of the problems that have been plaguing the NHS for the last decade. Obsession with targets and not care, flawed systems of self assessment, a culture of blame and fear and most of all patients at the bottom of the pile of priorities. Together these reports paint a damning picture. Their findings should’ve been released at the time. You can’t just bury bad news”
“Arguments that hospital failures were one offs now look very empty. These reports clearly state that nobody-not the regulators, not the Department of Health, not Ministers-knew enough about the quality of care being given across the NHS to make those claims.”
“It is now absolutely vital that the new regulator fulfills its pledges to be monitoring the actual care provided. They are there for the patients, not the system. And we need to drive forward with obtaining and publishing meaningful data that will give patients a real idea about standards at their local hospital.”
“The blame culture creates so many problems. But we would be cautious of forgetting that whilst we don’t need blame and fear, we do need accountability.”
To download copies of the reports please click the link below:
http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/news/news.cgi?id=1049
To arrange interviews or to obtain further comment please contact the Patients Association on 0208 423 9111
