Barts Health NHS Trust

Heidi Alexander Excerpts
Thursday 19th March 2015

(9 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jane Ellison Portrait Jane Ellison
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The bullying of NHS staff who are trying to draw attention to poor care is never acceptable, and this Government have taken a lot of measures to make sure that NHS staff are protected. The trust’s chief executive has said the following about the report:

“We are very sorry for the failings identified by the CQC in some of our services at Whipps Cross and we know the Trust has a big challenge ahead.”

Part of that big challenge will be in restoring staff morale, and making sure that that culture of openness and support for staff is in place.

Heidi Alexander Portrait Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab)
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The placing of Barts into special measures this week confirms what many of us already know: London hospitals are under enormous pressure, some simply cannot cope and too many patients are not getting the care they deserve. In the light of that, can the Minister confirm that the recently announced Monitor investigation into the Princess Royal hospital at Farnborough will not result in another attempt by her Government to take the axe to Lewisham hospital and to services in south-east London more generally?

Jane Ellison Portrait Jane Ellison
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I believe we may well be addressing that issue in an Adjournment debate next week. There will be a chance to discuss it in more detail then.