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Stafford Hospital scandal: Welsh plans to avoid equivalent Stafford Hospital scandal: Welsh plans to avoid equivalent
(about 1 hour later)
A strategy to ensure a Stafford Hospital scale NHS care scandal never happens in Wales is to be outlined. Plans to ensure patients in Welsh hospitals never fall victim to abuse and neglect are to be outlined following the Stafford Hospital scandal where hundreds died needlessly.
A public inquiry found years of abuse and neglect led to hundreds of needless patient deaths at the hospital. A public inquiry found neglect and abuse at the Mid Staffordshire Trust hospital between 2005 and 2008 had contributed to patient deaths.
The Welsh government will pledge to update NHS complaints procedures and ensure care standards focus on individuals. In Wales it led to a "critical eye" being cast over the health service.
Health Minister Mark Drakeford will also uphold a ban on gagging clauses in response to the inquiry report. A series of measures designed to protect patients is due to be unveiled.
The Stafford Hospital report, led by Robert Francis QC, was published in February. The Welsh government plan is expected to include:
The plans have followed the publication of the Stafford Hospital report, led by Robert Francis QC, in February which accused the NHS of putting corporate self-interest ahead of patients.
Data had shown there were between 400 and 1,200 more deaths at the hospital than would have been expected. It was blamed on a culture of post-cutting and target-chasing ahead of the quality of care delivered.
Examples included patients being so thirsty that they had to drink water from vases and receptionists left to decide which patients to treat in A&E.
Nurses were not trained properly to use vital equipment, while inexperienced doctors were put in charge of critically ill patients.
Some patients needing pain relief either got it late or not at all, leaving them crying out for help, and there were cases where food and drinks were left out of reach.
Mr Francis said the failings went right to the top of the health service. He made 290 recommendations, saying "fundamental change" was needed to prevent the public losing confidence.Mr Francis said the failings went right to the top of the health service. He made 290 recommendations, saying "fundamental change" was needed to prevent the public losing confidence.
There was also criticism of the cost-cutting and target-chasing culture that had developed at the Mid Staffordshire Trust, which ran the hospital. The inquiry led to the Welsh government looking at the NHS system in Wales.
On Tuesday the Welsh government said it had already reduced healthcare associated infections and was taking action to increase NHS transparency, including publishing hospital mortality figures. On Tuesday it said it had already reduced healthcare associated infections and was taking action to increase NHS transparency, including publishing hospital mortality figures.
Speaking before an assembly debate on Welsh ministers' response to the Francis report, Mr Drakeford said he wanted a "culture of conversation" in the health service, "where people feel able to voice concerns about care and know they are being heard". Speaking before an assembly debate on Welsh ministers' response to the Francis report, Health Minister Mark Drakeford said he wanted a "culture of conversation" in the health service, "where people feel able to voice concerns about care and know they are being heard".
"Of course, when things don't happen as they should, we must listen, learn and take action," he said."Of course, when things don't happen as they should, we must listen, learn and take action," he said.
"We know that NHS staff in Wales are highly motivated and committed, and we must ensure we have a health service which allows them to get on with their job of providing excellent care."We know that NHS staff in Wales are highly motivated and committed, and we must ensure we have a health service which allows them to get on with their job of providing excellent care.
"The Francis Inquiry, although undertaken in response to failures outside Wales, offers us the opportunity to look at our health service with a critical eye and ensure we are in the best shape to deliver the safe, compassionate care patients deserve," Mr Drakeford added. "The Francis Inquiry, although undertaken in response to failures outside Wales, offers us the opportunity to look at our health service with a critical eye and ensure we are in the best shape to deliver the safe, compassionate care patients deserve," Dr Drakeford added.
Liberal Democrats called for a mechanism to trigger investigations when an NHS body consistently exceeded a specific death rate. The Liberal Democrats have called for a mechanism to trigger investigations when an NHS body consistently exceeded a specific death rate.
Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams also urged ministers to legislate for minimum staffing levels for nurses, set up a free whistle blowing hotline for health service staff and tackle a backlog in the system of clinical coding of patients. Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams has also urged ministers to legislate for minimum staffing levels for nurses, set up a free whistle blowing hotline for health service staff and tackle a backlog in the system of clinical coding of patients.
"For the NHS's mortality index to work properly, every patient admitted to a Welsh hospital must be accurately coded with their risk of dying," she said."For the NHS's mortality index to work properly, every patient admitted to a Welsh hospital must be accurately coded with their risk of dying," she said.
"The University Hospital of Wales has admitted a backlog of 40,000 patients still waiting to be coded."The University Hospital of Wales has admitted a backlog of 40,000 patients still waiting to be coded.
"If they are not correctly coded, we will not know if their deaths could have been avoided." "If they are not correctly coded, we will not know if their deaths could have been avoided," she added.