Published 6 July 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2722
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b2722

Letters

Institutional safety problem

Where is the NHS Macpherson?

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Macpherson found an institutional problem of racism in the Metropolitan Police. The NHS seems to have an institutional problem about safety. Surely the failure of all the safety mechanisms at local, regional, and national levels in Staffordshire demand wider investigation than the narrow focus on the trust by the select committee, and the anecdotal approach of a recent conference.^{1 2}

That the responsible heads of the NHS suggest juniors should "make waves" seems superficial. Senior medical and nursing staff at Stafford tried to make waves, and were not heard. It is surely not for the trust and its staff alone to "stand up for safety." What was happening at the primary care trust, which commissioned health care from the trust and should have been listening to the community and the staff? Did it not hear or see the waves? Perhaps the local MP has a role in ensuring safe health care . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Beverley HU17 8HP

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