This story about filthy and dangerous NHS hospitals has really gained momentum over the weekend. What is really bad news for the government is that not only is this is not a one off rogue trust, but that many of our hospitals are in this state and the problem has only been accurately identified by the private sector in the form of Dr Foster.
For me it is not surprising that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) managed to rate many of these Trusts as “good” and then for Dr Foster to obtain more accurate results. I have recently been in discussion with a number of colleagues about the CQC and the general opinion of them is that they are disorganised, incoherent and generally do not have a clue what they are doing. In fact when some nurses that I know asked them for an opinion they were unable to give any helpful or coherent advice.
I am sure that this story and the others like it that will follow will bring calls from interest groups for more regulation. This is the wrong way to solve this problem. There are two courses of action that must now be taken as a matter of urgency.
First, the NHS has shown that it is now failing to provide clean, safe care with monotonous regularity. All healthcare provision in the UK must be returned to the independent sector as a matter of urgency.
Second, the CQC has demonstrated that it is incapable of making accurate assessments of the state of our hospitals so why not abolish it immediately and let the public rely on more respected and reliable brands such as Dr Foster and Which to inform then of the true state of healthcare provision.
The only way forward is for less regulation from government and more market forces and self regulation.
