Francis at centre of Care Bill
pharmafile | May 13, 2013 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Hunt, Mid Staffs, NHS
The government’s new Care Bill carries a variety of measures designed to ensure that failings such as those at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust do not happen again.
Among the most eye-catching elements of the Bill are the cap of £72,000 it suggests on individuals’ care costs, after which the state will pay – but it is the fallout from recent evidence of patient abuse which really sets the tone.
The government has spoken about the need for a ‘culture of compassion’ in the NHS following Robert Francis QC’s report into Mid Staffs.
NHS England’s latest three-year business plan, published last month, reflected the Department of Health’s pledge of “a renewed focus on putting patients at the centre of everything we do”.
Francis made 290 recommendations covering issues such as improving basic standards, creating more transparency, increasing compassion in care and strengthening leadership.
MPs will have the chance to debate the new Bill’s contents at its second reading, which is scheduled to take place on 21 May.
The Care Bill has been split into three parts: response to Francis; reform of care and support; and establishing Health Education England and the Health Research Authority, enshrining in law their roles in training health professionals and protecting the interests of people in health and social care research.
The Francis part of it includes the introduction of Ofsted-style ratings for hospitals and care homes, and a beefed-up chief inspector of hospitals role, which will be appointed by the Care Quality Commission.
The Bill also proposes making it a criminal offence for health and care providers to supply or publish false or misleading information.
The reform of care and support aspects of the Bill include the £72,000 cap on costs – more than double the £35,000 figure recommended by the Dilnot Commission – plus new rights for carers themselves.
“We have swiftly brought in measures to address the findings of Robert Francis’ report that will improve care and mean that patients will be treated with more compassion and respect,” said health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
“I strongly believe that the chief inspectors, improved training for staff and making quality as important as finance will improve NHS care,” he went on.
Hunt said the cap on care costs “mean, for the first time, older people will not have to fear losing their homes in their lifetime to pay care home fees and everyone with a care plan will be able to have a personal budget to choose how they are cared for”.
Care services minister Norman Lamb agreed: “People will finally be able to plan for their later years and not have to fear being saddled with catastrophic costs to pay for care.”
Adam Hill
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