Government apologises for Mid Staffordshire Trust scandal

The Department of Health has apologised “wholeheartedly” for the part it played in the failings at Mid Staffordshire Trust.

An inquiry by Robert Francis QC into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust found there had been appalling neglect of patients at Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2009.

Mr Francis concluded that patients were routinely neglected by a Trust that was preoccupied with cost cutting, targets and processes and which lost sight of its fundamental responsibility to provide safe care. For many patients, the most basic elements of care were neglected with calls for help to use the bathroom ignored and patients left lying in soiled sheeting and sitting on commodes for hours, often feeling ashamed and afraid. Patients were left unwashed, at times for up to a month.

Since the report was published, five hospital trusts with persistently high death rates have been placed under investigation. Department of Health permanent secretary Una O’Brien has responded to the findings.

Ms O’Brien said: “On behalf of the Department of Health, I would like to apologise wholeheartedly for the part the department played in the failings at Mid Staffs and the terrible impact it had on patients, their families and the standards of care.”

Following the report’s comments about the deficiencies at the Trust she said: “In response to the Francis report, we will be considering more profoundly our own behaviours as stewards of the health and care system and how we can do more to listen to patients and truly understand their experience of illness, care and recovery.”

“I know all our staff are reflecting deeply on the report today, and we will be making plans over the coming days and weeks for the actions we all need to take.”

The Department will be responding in further detail next month, and Ms O’Brien has promised: “We will take action on the recommendations from Robert Francis QC. We are committed to a renewed focus on putting patients at the centre of everything we do.”

David Behan, chief executive of the healthcare regulator, Care Quality Commission said:“We agree with Robert Francis that the NHS should maintain a positive patient-focused culture throughout. Our priority now is to develop and deliver these commitments. We will begin to move towards a new approach in the way we regulate NHS hospitals from this summer.”

Martin Green, chief executive of the English Community Care Association called the “focus on better accountability, particularly of NHS Boards, is right and reflects similar discussions in the independent sector. NHS providers cannot be subject to a less rigorous legal framework than other providers in the health and social care system”.

Chief executive of the Registered Nursing Home Association, Frank Ursell also remarked: “The sorry Mid Staffs saga that Mr Robert Francis QC has reported should serve as a lesson to decision-makers nationally and locally about what can happen when excessive priority is given to cutting back and insufficient priority is given to patients’ needs.”

For more on the Inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire Trust scandal please see www.carehome.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1558830/mid-staffs-scandal-shows-the-importance-of-breaking-down-the-barriers-between-health-and-social-care

One of the recommendations of the Francis Report is to have one regulator scrutinising both clinical and financial standards with the CQC swallowing up Monitor and becoming a super regulator. To vote on this issue please go to our sister site www.homecare.co.uk/news/debates.cfm