DH, 19 November 2013
(These reports builds on the government’s initial response to the Francis enquiry: Patients First and Foremost, March 2013).
(These reports builds on the government’s initial response to the Francis enquiry: Patients First and Foremost, March 2013).
- The reports explain the changes that have been put in place since the initial response, and set out how the whole health and care system will prioritise and build on this. Volume 2 outlines the responses to each of the 290 recommendations made by the public inquiry.
- Ministers have rejected nine of Robert Francis’ 290 recommendations, accepted 20 in part and 57 in principle only. Recommendations include:
- Statutory duty of candour on organisations and professional duty on individuals
- Trusts that don’t stick to the duty of candour face losing their litigation cover.
- Trusts also face a new “willful neglect” offence.
- There will be no centrally-set, mandatory nurse to patient ratios, but there will be guidance and tools for setting staffing levels and trusts will have to publish regular ward data on staffing.
- Regular publication of patient safety data
- Greater senior involvement in complaints handling
- Fit and proper persons test for Board members and greater performance management of very senior managers
- A 'Clinical Bureaucracy Index' for trusts and Concordat between national bodies to reduce bureaucracy.
- Read the NHS Confederation reaction and briefing.
- Read the speech given by Jeremy Hunt - Learning lessons of Mid Staffordshire and the importance of building a culture of compassionate care
Website - Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry: government response http://francisresponse.dh.gov.uk/
- The website created for the response has five key categories with links to each for a summary, each with sub-links. They are:
- Compassion and care http://francisresponse.dh.gov.uk/compassion-and-care
- Values and standards http://francisresponse.dh.gov.uk/values-and-standards
- Openness and transparency http://francisresponse.dh.gov.uk/openness-and-transparency
- Leadership http://francisresponse.dh.gov.uk/leadership
- Information http://francisresponse.dh.gov.uk/information
- See recommendations of interest to 46 different organisaitons and groups including CCGs , NHS providers, social care
