NHS Foundation Trust stopped providing safe care because they were preoccupied with government targets and cutting costs.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Stafford Hospital caused ‘unimaginable suffering

Patients were routinely neglected or left “sobbing and humiliated” by staff at an NHS trust where at least 400 deaths have been linked to appalling care.

An independent inquiry found that managers at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust stopped providing safe care because they were preoccupied with government targets and cutting costs.

The inquiry report, published yesterday by Robert Francis, QC, included proposals for tough new regulations that could lead to managers at failing NHS trusts being struck off.

The report, which follows reviews by the Care Quality Commission and the Department of Health, said that “unimaginable” suffering had been caused. Regulators said last year that between 400 and 1,200 more patients than expected may have died at the hospital from 2005 to 2008.

Mr Burnham said it was a “longstanding anomaly” that the NHS did not have a robust way of regulating managers or banning them from working, as it does with doctors or nurses. “We must end the situation where a senior NHS manager who has failed in one job can simply move to another elsewhere,” he added. “This is not acceptable to the public and not conducive to promoting accountability and high professional standards.”

Some NHS chief executives have received six-figure redundancy packages or moved to other trusts despite poor performance. Martin Yeates, the former chief executive at Mid Staffordshire, received pay rises that took his annual salary to £180,000, while standards at the trust deteriorated.

The Liberal Democrats claimed that he had also received a payoff of more than £400,000 after stepping down last March, though Mr Burnham said he had received “no more than his contractual entitlement”.

But the families of those who died or suffered poor care branded the inquiry a “whitewash” and repeated calls for a full public investigation. The Conservatives accused ministers of trying to blame managers rather than taking responsibility for problems with national targets.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_...icle7039285.ece

[Ali G. 37]

Too bad Obama's proposal has nothing to do with a NHS.

[Danno 1,228]

Too bad Obama's proposal has nothing to do with a NHS.

Sausage is sausage.

Sometimes you use beef, sometimes pork, but it all comes out the same way and looking quite similar.

I should all these Abuses sounded startling!

My point would be: They could happen any where under any program, the KICKER is when the Gov is the sole administrator of care, you have no choice but to endure.

These families often knew these places were Hell-holes. When Gov-Co takes over the system you can't just pack granny up and leave, that would be tantamount to having a beef with the IRS, you have to deal with them... and on their terms.

[Peikko 1,575]

I heard about that on the radio this morning - didn't get the full story though. Terrible, and there is a loop hole that needs to be closed. Not good enough to be able to sack the Dr's and nurses for failing to meet standards but not trust managers. It's appalling and I sincerely hope that the real cause is addressed. I don't quite see how national targets could be to blame, when there is no suggestion that these conditions are systemic.

[Peikko 1,575]

Sausage is sausage.

Sometimes you use beef, sometimes pork, but it all comes out the same way and looking quite similar.

I should all these Abuses sounded startling!

My point would be: They could happen any where under any program, the KICKER is when the Gov is the sole administrator of care, you have no choice but to endure.

These families often knew these places were Hell-holes. When Gov-Co takes over the system you can't just pack granny up and leave, that would be tantamount to having a beef with the IRS, you have to deal with them... and on their terms.

You really have no idea what you are talking about Danno, you just proved it with that idiotic statement.

[Ali G. 37]

Sausage is sausage.

Sometimes you use beef, sometimes pork, but it all comes out the same way and looking quite similar.

I should all these Abuses sounded startling!

My point would be: They could happen any where under any program, the KICKER is when the Gov is the sole administrator of care, you have no choice but to endure.

These families often knew these places were Hell-holes. When Gov-Co takes over the system you can't just pack granny up and leave, that would be tantamount to having a beef with the IRS, you have to deal with them... and on their terms.

What are you talking about? It's like saying we should ban all cars because Toyota is having an issue with a component.

How about reading an article or two from the US? I guess it's just too easy to pick and choose random unrelated articles and attempt to make a negative point.

First off, the UK has a NHS rather than universal coverage. Absolutely nothing like Obama's proposed universal coverage. Trying to compare the two is like trying to compare ships to cars, because they both move.