My recent comments on the NHS preceded by a day the news that the NHS watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, has identified a failure of basic care for the elderly in 25% of hospitals. This is unlikely to be a surprise to anyone; I commented in September 2009 on a Patients Association report that found that many nurses clearly didn't feel that nursing, notably of the elderly, was among their duties or responsibilities.
It's appalling that, eighteen months later, this is still an issue; what's horrific is that this report seems to offer no intelligent or constructive solutions to the problem. Where are the recommendations for addressing the issue? For retraining, even disciplining, neglectful staff? For restructuring over-large wards and unclear hierarchies to make sure that patients are at the heart of activities and that someone is responsible for making sure they remain the central focus? For employing permanent staff who have commitment to their job and workplace, a sense of personal investment and responsibility, instead of relying on an ever-changing roster of agency nurses who have neither? For getting nurses in amongst the beds and patients, and away from the clutch around the ward's desk, far away from the patients — a too-frequent sight in many hospitals?
The CQC's mission statement is to "make sure that people get better care" and they announce:
It's appalling that, eighteen months later, this is still an issue; what's horrific is that this report seems to offer no intelligent or constructive solutions to the problem. Where are the recommendations for addressing the issue? For retraining, even disciplining, neglectful staff? For restructuring over-large wards and unclear hierarchies to make sure that patients are at the heart of activities and that someone is responsible for making sure they remain the central focus? For employing permanent staff who have commitment to their job and workplace, a sense of personal investment and responsibility, instead of relying on an ever-changing roster of agency nurses who have neither? For getting nurses in amongst the beds and patients, and away from the clutch around the ward's desk, far away from the patients — a too-frequent sight in many hospitals?
The CQC's mission statement is to "make sure that people get better care" and they announce:
We do this by:
- encouraging improvement across health and adult social care
- putting people first and standing up for their rights
- acting quickly to remedy bad practice
- gathering and using knowledge and expertise, and working with others.
Far from "encouraging improvement" and "working with others", however, the only solutions the CDC seems able to offer are the threat of fines, prosecutions and ward closures — who on earth will that benefit?
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