NHS: Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

Baroness Masham of Ilton Excerpts

Monday 11th March 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Masham of Ilton]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for securing this debate but I have to say that, with such an emotive and tragic subject, the time given is totally inadequate.

Some time ago, I had the honour to chair a meeting in your Lordships’ House of some of the next of kin of those who had died in Mid Staffordshire hospital in such distressing circumstances. They were honourable people, who told us of their experiences. The Patients Association, of which I am a member, was involved in organising this meeting. I hope that the Members of your Lordships’ House who attended were as convinced as I am that hospitals should not be places of fear and bullying but that patient safety should be the top priority, with patients being the focal point and with enough trained staff to care for them with understanding and compassion.

With the ongoing system of cruelty for so long a period at Mid Staffordshire, I wonder what the hospital chaplains were doing. They should be a support to both patients and staff. Why did they not notice the inadequate patient care and speak out? Perhaps they, too, were silenced and shunned.

The Francis report states the need for a “duty of candour”. There should be transparency, the need to report wrongdoings, and communication with patients and their next of kin when things have gone wrong. I brought amendments concerning this during the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill. Now, with the recommendation in the Francis report, I ask the Minister: what is going to happen about this? The report must not become just a talking exercise; action is needed. The NHS, throughout the country, must have the highest standards for all patients.

Sixteen babies and two mothers died at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. As stated in the Sunday Times,

“In both cases”—

of Stafford and Morecambe Bay—

“managers are accused of covering up patient deaths as they chased the prize of foundation trust status”.

Many people have lost confidence in the NHS. Patients should be treated with dignity, kindness, compassion, courtesy, respect, understanding and honesty. In addition, they want safety and clean hospitals at all times.

I ask the Minister: is the NHS in safe hands? There is much to do to restore the public’s confidence in the NHS so that it can flourish. We need it.