The Health Select Committee takes evidence from Robert Francis QC

On Tuesday 12 February 2013, the Health Select Committee of which Valerie Vaz MP, Walsall South, is a member, heard evidence from Robert Francis QC on his Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry.

Valerie Vaz MP said:

“I asked Mr Francis how he sees his recommendations fitting in with the current efficiency savings being pursued by the NHS. Mr Francis replied saying that the NHS should focus on what he terms ‘Fundamental Standards’. These are levels of care and treatment that we should all expect. He went on to say that if a hospital cannot provide a service where everyone is cleaned properly, fed properly and given medicine when it has been proscribed to them, then they should not be offering a service at all. If these fundamental standards of care are not met, Mr Francis recommends serious sanctions. In the case of serious harm or death it should be treated as a criminal offence. “

“I said to Mr Francis that in 2011, the Health Select Committee produced a report on Complaints and Litigation which has been ignored by the Government. The NHS litigation bill has now passed £1 billion. There is a need for local resolution and Legal Aid, so claims can be quickly sorted through to find out which are the good claims and which are the bad claims, and to know which ones to bring forward.”

“I am pleased that Mr Francis stressed that his recommendation for a duty of candour will help right situations when patients have been wronged. He went on to say that this can happen in a number of ways and take the form of an apology, a promise to put things right or even compensation.”

The Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry by Robert Francis QC can be found here: http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/report

The full recording of the Health Select Committee session with Robert Francis QC can be found here: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=12578&player=windowsmedia