Agenda item

Report of the Chair of the Clinical Commissioning Group detailing the Government’s initial response to the public inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, attached.

The Board considered the report of the Chair, Clinical Commissioning Group detailing the initial Government response to the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry led by Robert Francis QC (the Francis report).  The Francis report and the Governments response both raised a number of important issues for the local health and care system and told the story of an appalling breakdown of basic patient care which resulted in the death of approximately 500 patients.  The Board noted that disturbingly the breakdown occurred against the backdrop of the Trust becoming a Foundation Trust with the emphasis on financial management rather than patient care.  Many regulatory and supervisory bodies had concerns about the Trust’s performance they failed to prevent or deal with the problems.  The report identified numerous warning signs which cumulatively or in some cases singly could and should have alerted the system to the problems developing at the Trust. 

The Government response set out a 5 point action plan to “revolutionise the care that people receive from our NHS”.  The key points were:-

• Preventing problems
• Detecting problems quickly
• Tackling action promptly
• Ensuring robust accountability
• Ensuring staff are trained and motivated

The Board noted that following the inquiry there would undoubtedly be opportunities for the NHS and social care systems in Southampton and the desire for those working in local organisations to do their best for their patients, clients and customers.  Southampton CCG was committed to making quality the central theme of everything they did and in doing so using the transparent, supportive “no blame” approach.  A Clinical Governance Committee had been set up and regular meetings with local provider trusts to discuss quality and safety issues took place.

Discussions took place in relation to:-

·  Complaints and the need for them to be seen as positive rather than negative; for them to be listened to and learnt from in order to transform services. 

·  The importance of relationships between the Integrated Commissioning Unit and the H&WBB

·  That health professionals needed to understand the relationship with patient care

·  The importance of both the H&WBB and Health Overview Scrutiny Panel in supporting and encouraging a culture of quality and safety.

·  That the NHS Constitution was being reviewed to include what basic care standards were and should be.

Mr Eayrs, Member of the Public was in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

  i.  That the issues highlighted in the “Initial Government Response to the Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry, chaired by Robert Francis QC - Patients First and Foremost” be noted;

  ii.  That the work locally within the NHS and partner organisation to respond to the challenge of the Francis Report be noted and the direction of travel of the NHS and partner organisations to foster a culture of care, with continuous improvement of quality, safety and patient experience be supported; and

  iii.  That a progress report on the work locally be submitted to the Board in 9 months.