Kings Fund, 23 May 2013
- This report summarises the main findings of the Francis Inquiry into the failings of care at Mid Staffordshire in relation to NHS leadership and culture. It sets out what needs to be done to avoid similar failures in future, focusing on the role of three key 'lines of defence' against poor-quality care: frontline clinical teams, the boards leading NHS organisations, and national organisations responsible for overseeing the commissioning, regulation and provision of care.
- Key findings
- The leadership of the NHS at a national level needs to create conditions in which local organisations have the freedom to deliver consistently high standards of care and where the needs of patients come first.
- The quality of care provided by NHS organisations should, first and foremost, be a corporate responsibility under the leadership of boards, who must lead by example by focusing on the quality and safety of care.
- Leaders need to value and support frontline staff and ensure the main focus is on patients and their care.
- Leadership development should give priority to supporting leaders at all levels to be patient-centred and to ensure that staff have the time and resources required to deliver high-quality care.
- Patient leaders should work alongside NHS leaders to support the transformation called for in the Francis Inquiry report
