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| NHS hospital Ofsted-style ratings would be difficult, Hunt told | NHS hospital Ofsted-style ratings would be difficult, Hunt told |
| (6 months later) | |
| Jeremy Hunt has suffered a setback in his plan to introduce tough Ofsted-style performance ratings for NHS hospitals. Experts have told him it is possible, but would be a difficult and complex task. | Jeremy Hunt has suffered a setback in his plan to introduce tough Ofsted-style performance ratings for NHS hospitals. Experts have told him it is possible, but would be a difficult and complex task. |
| The health secretary has identified a ratings system modelled on the schools inspectorate as a key way of driving up patient care in the wake of the Mid Staffs scandal. Ratings would produce "pressure for a constant, relentless improvement in standards" and, like schools, prompt those rated "average" to seek "good" status and those deemed "good" to try to become "outstanding", Hunt said. | The health secretary has identified a ratings system modelled on the schools inspectorate as a key way of driving up patient care in the wake of the Mid Staffs scandal. Ratings would produce "pressure for a constant, relentless improvement in standards" and, like schools, prompt those rated "average" to seek "good" status and those deemed "good" to try to become "outstanding", Hunt said. |
| However, in a detailed report published today, the Nuffield Trust thinktank, which he asked to examine his idea, says hospitals are too complex for their performance to be adequately conveyed through a single score. Examples of good or poor care in different wards or departments could be masked, it adds. | However, in a detailed report published today, the Nuffield Trust thinktank, which he asked to examine his idea, says hospitals are too complex for their performance to be adequately conveyed through a single score. Examples of good or poor care in different wards or departments could be masked, it adds. |
| Such ratings would not pick up emerging problems and could lose credibility if they rated as good or excellent a hospital in which poor care was found, the think-tank warns. "A rating per se is unlikely on its own to be useful in spotting lapses in the quality of care, particularly for services within complex providers like hospitals," said Dr Jennifer Dixon, the Nuffield Trust's chief executive. | Such ratings would not pick up emerging problems and could lose credibility if they rated as good or excellent a hospital in which poor care was found, the think-tank warns. "A rating per se is unlikely on its own to be useful in spotting lapses in the quality of care, particularly for services within complex providers like hospitals," said Dr Jennifer Dixon, the Nuffield Trust's chief executive. |
| Doctors, nurses, surgeons and hospital doctors had opposed the plan. | Doctors, nurses, surgeons and hospital doctors had opposed the plan. |
| The report opens the way for Hunt to push ahead with ratings for GP surgeries and care homes by endorsing their use there as a way of improving performance. The British Medical Association, the doctors' union, said such ratings risked demoralising staff in organisations which received low scores, which could harm patient care. | The report opens the way for Hunt to push ahead with ratings for GP surgeries and care homes by endorsing their use there as a way of improving performance. The British Medical Association, the doctors' union, said such ratings risked demoralising staff in organisations which received low scores, which could harm patient care. |
| • This article was amended on 26 March 2013 to clarify that the Nuffield Trust report said Ofsted-style performance ratings for NHS hospitals would be difficult, but not impossible, to implement. | • This article was amended on 26 March 2013 to clarify that the Nuffield Trust report said Ofsted-style performance ratings for NHS hospitals would be difficult, but not impossible, to implement. |
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