MPs raise patient safety concerns

3 July 2009 12:17am

Not enough is being done to make health services safer for patients, the House of Commons Health Committee has said.

The committee's Patient Safety report said there had been "insufficient progress" towards the Government's goal to make safety a priority across the whole healthcare system.

Government policy "too often" gave the impression that hitting waiting list and accident and emergency targets, achieving financial balance and attaining Foundation Trust status were more important than patient safety.

"This has undoubtedly, in a number of well documented cases, been a contributory factor in making services unsafe," the report said.

The committee noted the Healthcare Commission's finding that achieving Foundation status was one of the factors which "distracted" Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust from patient safety.

The commission found "appalling standards of care and chaotic systems for looking after patients" when it investigated a higher than expected number of deaths at the trust.

The latest report said the committee was "unconvinced of the case for a full public inquiry" in light of the work already done by the commission and others but did "see merit" in holding private hearings to allow staff to give evidence confidentially followed by a public report of findings.

Committee chairman Kevin Barron said: "It's difficult to say it couldn't happen again but I hope it won't happen again."

The Health Committee said there was "significant under-reporting" of incidents of concern in primary care and a major reason was "the persistent failure to eliminate the 'blame culture'". It said staff should be encouraged to report concerns or incidents without fear.

Mr Barron, Labour MP for Rother Valley, South Yorkshire, mentioned a controversial trip to New Zealand by some of the committee's members when he urged the NHS to follow the country's example of a Health and Disability Commissioner who can act on complaints from staff and patients. The creation of a health body equivalent to the Department of Transport's Accident Investigation Branches was also suggested.

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