Concerns at transparency of mental health partnership

Earlier this week, the NHS released a new league table which ranks all health trusts based on the fairness and effectiveness of procedures for reporting errors, near misses and incidents.

The aim of the table is to create a culture within the NHS where the organisation learns from its mistakes.

While there was good news for the Great Western Hospital Trust, which was considered outstanding, the AWP was scored badly.

Chiefs at the mental health partnership say they do examine problems when they arise and say the chance to for the NHS to improve as a whole is a good thing.

A spokesperson for AWP said: “We are quick to initiate a thorough investigation of any issues or complaints brought to our attention. We have always taken this seriously and will continue to do so.

“Every NHS Trust is required to use these new measures to inform the way services are provided. We welcome an initiative that raises the quality of transparency across the NHS.”

The GWH expressed pride in its position and said by recognising its errors it can maintain patient safety.

Julie Marshman, Deputy Director of Quality Governance, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have ranked so highly in this new league and to have been given an outstanding rating.

“The safety of our patients is always our top priority and we know that by openly and honestly recognising mistakes and discussing what we can do to improve in the future, patient safety will not only be maintained, but also improved.

“Our staff work hard every day to make the Trust as best as it can be for patients and their efforts have not only been recognised in this new league table but also in the many safety award nominations we have received over the last 12 months.”

This year is the first time the league has been created and it is done with the hope of creating a better service for patients.

Mike Durkin, National Patient Safety Director at NHS England said: “By letting trusts know how well they are doing compared with their peers, we want to start a conversation involving clinicians, managers and supporters of the NHS about what we can all do to make all parts of the NHS as safe as they can be.

“One of the most important duties of us all as clinicians, managers and supporters of the NHS is to cultivate an environment in which learning is at the heart of all we do.

“This goes far beyond education and training, important as they both are; and it can all too easily be forgotten as we wrestle with the day-to-day challenges of providing care.”