Biggest shake-up in NHS history announced after Stafford Hospital scandal
Hospitals will be legally obliged to own up to their mistakes under the biggest shake-up in the history of the NHS announced this afternoon.
A 'duty of candour' recommended in the wake of the Stafford Hospital scandal will mean hospitals could face criminal sanctions if they do not reveal details of errors and near misses.
They also face having their insurance withdrawn meaning individual hospitals or NHS Trusts would have to pay for insurance claims out of their own budgets.
But there will be a lesser 'professional' duty of candour for doctors and nurses with those who admit to errors being given credit for owning up to mistakes.
The Government today revealed it had accepted nearly all 290 recommendations made following the Stafford Hospital scandal.
All hospitals will have to publish staffing levels on a new website, hospital boards will have to review the evidence for setting their staffing levels in public every six months and another new website will publish all safety information.
The Government has 'accepted' 281 out of 290 recommendations made by Robert Francis QC who led the £13m inquiry into failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust. Other changes proposed today include:
5,000 NHS workers trained as safety fellows to champion patient safety
Wilful neglect will become a criminal offence.
A new fit and proper persons test that will see failed managers banned from taking new jobs.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "I want our NHS to be a beacon across the world, not just for its equity, but its excellence. Today's measures are a blueprint for restoring professional pride in NHS frontline staff."
