NHS has a “blame and shame” culture, most doctors agree

Two thirds (66%) of GPs and hospital doctors believe that there is a pervasive “blame and shame” culture in the NHS when it comes to dealing with medical errors and agree that this behaviour will be difficult to overcome.

A survey of 541 members of the UK Medical Protection Society (MPS) also found that nearly three quarters (70%) of surveyed doctors reported receiving no or limited support from their organisation when something went wrong.

A quarter of doctors said that they find it difficult to communicate with patients when things go wrong, and 91% said that time constraints restricted their ability to communicate as effectively as they would wish. Seven in 10 complaints to the NHS involve poor communication.

“There have been devastating examples in recent years which have shone the spotlight on blame and shame cultures in some parts of the NHS,” said Stephanie Bown, director of policy and communications at the MPS. “We know that doctors want to do right by their patients and that open communication leads to trust, the cornerstone of the doctor-patient relationship. These findings highlight the need for a fundamental shift in culture—a shift away from systemic finger pointing and a shift towards an open and supported environment where saying sorry is both encouraged and demonstrated at the highest level.”

The MPS also surveyed 2028 patients and members of the public about their views on transparency and openness in the NHS. Nearly all wanted an honest and open explanation when something goes wrong in their healthcare, and 90% wanted an apology.

• A Culture of Openness: The MPS Perspective is available at www.medicalprotection.org/uk/booklets/a-culture-of-openness.