Care Quality Omission
-the cartoon in today’s Times – NHS scandal watchdogs ‘should face prosecution’
shouts the front page headline - NHS patients need to be given more power
states the leader column.
Adroit-e has been arguing for some years that patients’
insights should be given increased prominence in policy making – but why
restrict things to NHS patients?
Many people go to the dentist privately – some practices
operate a 2 tier NHS/Private system. Adroit-e has approached dental groups with
a plan to operate a rigorous feed back system.
The culture in London NHS hospitals has been described to
Adroit-e by leading NHS managers as one where bullying consultants run
departments as personal fiefdoms. We responded by developing a plan to train
student doctors in conducting feedback research with patients – a small step in
improving the role of patients in identifying
an antipathetic culture.
We have consulted with doctors’ surgeries to produce a less
anodyne and uneven feedback structure for their patients, than the ones
currently in place.
Similarly, we have constructed rigorous feedback systems for
those concerned with the care of the elderly, a related structure to the one in
today’s headlines but no stranger to recent charges of systemic malfunction.
None of these feedback programmes is currently in operation
– in the hands of managers of these services they have either withered on the
grapevine or failed to see the light of day.
It’s part of the same set of circumstances – the truth is
something to be avoided at all costs in case it interferes with the smooth
running of the business.
Come on guys – you can do better than this!
