Robert Francis’ report into failures of the Stafford Hospital has been a wakeup call for the NHS. The inquiry was undertaken following a higher than expected death rate at the hospital over several years but is it a chink of light for the NHS as a whole? Is there finally a recognition that the target culture has contributed to the problems in some way?
The report is clear that it is the board that were at fault in that they had pursued foundation trust status, driving costs down in the face of complaints from both patients and staff and it states that fundamental change is required whereby patients are put first. Indeed, previous reports in 2009 and 2010 had also criticised the cost-cutting and target-chasing culture within the Trust.
So can the appalling breakdown in patient care be used as an opportunity for real change? Let’s hope so. Here are a few of the comments by leading politicians from coverage of the story on the web which hint at something in the wind:
- Jeremy Hunt Health Secretary: ‘The way hospitals’ successes are defined has become “skewed”, focusing on finance instead of care.’
- David Cameron: ‘The next round of moves to foundation trusts must not be rushed; patient care comes first.’ ‘Under the last government targets became “too tight and too obsessive”.’ ‘There was a culture at this hospital where targets were put ahead of patient care.’
- Ed Miliband: ‘Targets have their place, but they must be kept in their place.’
Over the last two days there has been a lot of discussion about changing the culture and stopping the never ending cycle of reorganisation as well as an acknowledgment that top-down change has been a contributory factor to the way that the hospital and its professionals had lost their purpose.
Has the squeezing of the financial resources over the last few years finally exposed the flaw in using targets to improve performance? Will a phoenix rise from the ashes of the Francis report? I see the slightest chink of light.
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 