Health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s presentation of the Keogh
Report was marred by ‘spinning’ and political point scoring – yahboo
politics of the worst kind.
What Hunt should have been concentrating on was the concise and
well-rounded conclusions of the review, headed by Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS
medical director, into high death rates at 14 NHS trusts.
The fact that the health secretary had to spend so much time attacking
the record of the last government on the NHS demonstrates that he is a lightweight
minister, out of his depth and failing to get a grip of his brief.
Since he took up his job ten months ago, he has behaved like a
handwringing spectator blaming everyone else for the problems faced by the
increasingly privatised NHS, except himself.
He needs to roll up his sleeves and take responsibility for what is
happening under his very eyes.
What should not be forgotten is that the underlying policy of this
government, instituted by Hunt’s predecessor, Andrew Lansley, is the
privatisation of the NHS in its 65th year. That’s
why Hunt blusters so much when what he should be doing is showing compassion
for the families whose loved ones needlessly died.
As a first step, Hunt should immediately introduce emergency
legislation to parliament so he can resume full responsibility for the NHS and
sort out the expensive privatised dog’s dinner that is the Health and Social
Care Act. The Tories conveniently wrote themselves out of being able to do
anything to amend the act before it went onto the statute book.
The Francis
report into the grave abuses at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has
to be implemented in full. Since the report came out, we have seen unworkable
headlines, but no action - we cannot continue with this time wasting ‘fiddling
while Rome burns’ approach.”
In February Unite welcomed the Francis report, particularly the
importance of whistleblowing on poor practice; the regulation of healthcare
support workers; and hiding information about poor care becoming a criminal
offence. Unite also called for all NHS institutions to have an independent
‘patient safety officer’, so staff and patients can raise concerns without
reprisal.
It is for the governors and management of the NHS to ensure that they
set out safer pathways as that’s what they are paid to do; and that there is
sufficient staff to deliver medical care 24/7, 365 days a year. The current
scapegoating of staff is no longer acceptable.
From now on, clinical evidence has to be the template for all that
happens in the NHS - not cutting costs, services and staff numbers and
introducing cuts to the skill mix. Money saving short cuts lead to shorter life
spans and risks to patient care.
The public also need to be able to raise concerns independently and
easily. We need the restoration of Community Health Councils (CHCs) with powers
to investigate complaints, not the current toothless
HealthWatch.
Finally, it should be noted that non-NHS bodies, i.e. private and "3rd sector" organisations are not obliged to even release the figures about how many
staff they employ, under the so-called commercial confidentiality rules. So
much for the “disinfectant of transparancy”.
But then as we know Hunt’s game is not openness, but the selling
off the NHS to the private healthcare companies, many of which contribute handsomely
to the coffers of the Tory party, as fast as possible.
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