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New hospital inspection regime announced by Jeremy Hunt New hospital inspection regime announced by Jeremy Hunt
(about 4 hours later)
It will take three to five years to turn around the 11 failing NHS hospitals identified in the Keogh review, according to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who acknowledged that more hospitals with similar problems would soon be identified by a new inspection regime.It will take three to five years to turn around the 11 failing NHS hospitals identified in the Keogh review, according to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who acknowledged that more hospitals with similar problems would soon be identified by a new inspection regime.
Hunt announced a number of measures that he believes will not only make a difference but give the public confidence that standards in their failing hospital are improving. Hunt announced a number of measures that he believes will not only make a difference but give the public confidence that standards in their local failing hospital are improving.
They include total transparency, with progress on the problems published on the NHS Choices website for all to see; independent, Ofsted-style inspections; and help from a "buddy" in the shape of a very successful hospital which will pass on its knowledge and expertise. They include total transparency, with progress on the problems published on the NHS Choices website for all to see; independent, Ofsted-style inspections; and help from a "buddy" in the shape of a very successful hospital that will pass on its knowledge and expertise.
"Turning around our failing hospitals is probably one of the biggest operational challenges that we face in the NHS today," said Hunt in the first of what he promised would be quarterly briefings on hospital improvements, also in the interests of transparency."Turning around our failing hospitals is probably one of the biggest operational challenges that we face in the NHS today," said Hunt in the first of what he promised would be quarterly briefings on hospital improvements, also in the interests of transparency.
"The really serious problems identified in the Francis report require politicians and NHS leaders to look long and hard at standards throughout the system. In most of the system standards are good and in some parts of the system they are superb, but not everywhere."The really serious problems identified in the Francis report require politicians and NHS leaders to look long and hard at standards throughout the system. In most of the system standards are good and in some parts of the system they are superb, but not everywhere.
"We have come to realise that some of the problems in some hospitals are so entrenched that it will take potentially three to five years to turn them around.""We have come to realise that some of the problems in some hospitals are so entrenched that it will take potentially three to five years to turn them around."
Following the Keogh review, published in July, 11 failing hospitals were put into special measures, six of which were foundation trusts – among those granted extra independence and freedom to manage their own affairs on the basis of excellence. Those foundation trusts have been stripped of that autonomy until they are removed from special measures. Following the Keogh review, which was published in July as a response to the Francis report, 11 failing hospitals were put into special measures, six of which were foundation trusts – among those granted extra independence and freedom to manage their own affairs on the basis of excellence. Those foundation trusts have been stripped of that autonomy until they are removed from special measures.
Leadership is a crucial issue at the failing trusts, Hunt said. In many of them, board members, chief executives and medical directors have left. Basildon, North Lincolnshire and Goole, Sherwood Forest and Thameside have all seen changes. Leadership is a crucial issue at the failing trusts, Hunt said. In many of them, board members, chief executives and medical directors have left. Basildon, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole, Sherwood Forest and Tameside have all seen changes: other people will go if leadership does not improve, said David Bennett of Monitor, which oversees the foundation trusts. Hunt said due process had to be followed, which would take time – "much to my frustration, actually".
Others will go if leadership does not improve, said David Bennett of Monitor, which oversees the foundation trusts. Hunt said due process had to be followed which took time, "much to my frustration, actually". Some leading hospitals have already agreed to help the failing trusts, although others are still seeking a partner. University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), lauded by Hunt as one of the best in the world, is supporting two – George Eliot hospital in Nuneaton and Burton Hospitals NHS foundation trust.
Some top hospitals have already agreed to help the failing trusts, although others are still seeking a partner. University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), lauded by Hunt as one of the best in the world, is supporting two – George Eliot hospital in Nuneaton and Burton Hospitals NHS foundation trust. Dame Julie Moore, chief executive of UHB, has implemented a world-class IT system there and is now helping George Eliot develop its own. She said that supporting other hospitals did not have to be hugely time-consuming and would not detract from the performance of the top hospitals. "Some of the systems we have sweated on over the years, it seems, are relatively simple to pass on to somebody else," she said.
Dame Julie Moore, chief executive of UHB, has implemented a world-class IT system there and is now helping George Eliot develop its own. She said that supporting other hospitals did not have to be hugely time-consuming and would not detract from the performance of the top hospitals. "Some of the systems we have sweated on over the years it seems are relatively simple to pass on to somebody else," she said.
But one of the key problems failing hospitals have – shortages of nurses and doctors – are not an issue at UHB, she pointed out. Successful hospitals attract high-quality staff.But one of the key problems failing hospitals have – shortages of nurses and doctors – are not an issue at UHB, she pointed out. Successful hospitals attract high-quality staff.
She has also operated a policy of ensuring every nurse vacancy is filled and even overfilled, to be certain there are always enough nurses and that good quality applicants can always be taken on. This cut spending on agencies, saving £850,000, and quality of care went up, she said.She has also operated a policy of ensuring every nurse vacancy is filled and even overfilled, to be certain there are always enough nurses and that good quality applicants can always be taken on. This cut spending on agencies, saving £850,000, and quality of care went up, she said.
Hunt acknowledged that in the past, the drive to meet financial targets had led to "unacceptable compromises" on staffing levels.Hunt acknowledged that in the past, the drive to meet financial targets had led to "unacceptable compromises" on staffing levels.
Successful hospitals that partner failing trusts will have their expenses covered but may also get payments if the failing trust is turned around and comes out of special measures.Successful hospitals that partner failing trusts will have their expenses covered but may also get payments if the failing trust is turned around and comes out of special measures.
The new inspection regime led by Sir Mike Richards is very likely to turn up other hospitals with problems. Richards will be inspecting 18 trusts before Christmas. Those that fail will face the same programme of improvements that the 11 trusts are now undergoing, said Hunt. The new inspection regime, led by Professor Sir Mike Richards, is very likely to turn up other hospitals with problems. Richards will be inspecting 18 trusts before Christmas. Those that fail will face the same programme of improvements that the 11 trusts are now undergoing, said Hunt.
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