Time to come clean, by Noel Plumridge
May 29, 2008
Time to come clean, by Noel Plumridge (PF 16/11/07)
NED at Kent Trust where 90 people died from C-difficile: “Patient care was supposed to be the top priority, but in reality external pressure meant that it had to be balanced against achieving government targets and financial balance.” DH accused of running NHS on a command and control basis.
DH reliance on inspection, performance management and fear of punishment has been accompanied by high-profile political interventions.
Reason for success of military hospitals: infection can close a hospital. Keeping hospitals open is critical to military missions, therefore there is clarity that a key goal is infection control.
