Cameron And The NHS

As I write Cameron is wittering on in the background about the report into the scandal at Mid Staffs, a hospital that managed to kill (not just harm) between 400 and 1,200 people by not caring even a little bit.

Cameron is talking all the political stuff about what happened being terrible and how can it have happened. It happened, dimwit, because Blair introduced a careless, self first culture to the country, made worse in detail in places like hospitals where he imposed idiotic,pointless targets. It happened because there were systemic problems that couldn't be cured because of the political culture that senior people should never be held to account.

What police action has been taken? None. What disciplinary action was taken at the hospital? Very little.What did the GMC do? Next to nothing. What happened to the CEO who was responsible for this shambles between 2006-8? She was made CEO of the Care Quality Commission! In what better way could the Establishment say, 'we really don't care'.

Here is what you do; make curing patients the reason for the NHS existing (I know, you thought it was already) and second you make the people responsible for delivery of safe healthcare, responsible. There must be real and serious consequences for something like Mid Staffs.

When my mother was killed by coming into contact with health 'professionals', she was abused, ignored and finally given an infection that killed her. Presenting with a condition involving sudden loss of certain motor functions, the hospital decided it must be cancer (she had had a small lump removed from her leg, with no recurrence, a couple of years earlier).

After spending months trying to prove their theory, they passed her on to neurology, where she was instantly diagnosed (treatment; steroids as soon as possible - oops). What happened to treating the patient? Whilst undergoing this time wasting investigation of cancer, the home she went to after a fall at home, let her fall to the floor (whilst escorted by two staff?) and denied water (she was admitted to hospital due to dehydration and there got the infection).

Written complaint about treatment in the home drew a self excusing letter about her being a problem and the fall was 'controlled' so staff didn't hurt themselves (just an old woman left bruised) and a death certificate quoting septicaemia as cause of death - wouldn't want to call it what it was, MRSA as that might affect targets.

The whole system has been corrupted because of self important senior managers who know, absolutely that they are never going to be held accountable for their failings. never. (Hence the outrage when social services Director Shoesmith was held responsible for the failings of her department. She was genuinely shocked to be considered accountable.)