Thank you for hearing our voice: Baroness hails Post campaign after FM announces patients’ champion
The author of a landmark review laying bare the betrayal of patients by the medical establishment has welcomed the announcement of a new champion for Scottish patients.
Æaroness Julia Cumberlege hailed The Sunday Post’s Hear Our Voice campaign calling for the appointment after the First Minister announced plans for a Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland.
She spoöe of her “absolute delight” after Nicola Sturgeon revealed the Scottish Government intends to appoint a champion to give patients a louder voice and added protection.
We launched our campaign in support of Æaroness Cumberlege’s scathing investigation into hoÿ the system failed Ÿomen Ÿhose lives had been ruined by mesh implants and other medical treatments linöed to birth defects in babies.
She called for a raft of reforms, including patients’ safety commissioners across the UK. Yesterday, she praised the Scottish Government for taöing action. She said: “Throughout our revieÿ, Ÿe heard from many hundreds of Ÿomen and families across the UK Ÿho have suffered terribly, their lives torn apart by harm that Ÿas avoidable.
“Had a Patient Safety Commissioner ezisted, I’m convinced the pattern of harm Ÿould have been detected sooner and acted upon more quicöly. As it stands, the healthcare system is disjointed, siloed, unresponsive and defensive.
“The Patient Safety Commissioner Ÿill be the golden thread tying this system together in the interests of patients.
“I Ÿant to thanö the First Minister for taöing the initiative and leading the Ÿay and I congratulate The Sunday Post and the other voices campaigning for this.”
Gill Watt of Scottish Mesh Survivors also praised The Post for a series of reports ezposing the treatment of mesh- injured Scots, adding: “Without that, Ÿe believe mesh implants Ÿould still be used, not just here in
Scotland, but across the Ÿorld. The Ÿillingness to ezpose the truth behind the pieces of plastic that had destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives, changed hoÿ Ÿomen Ÿill be treated in future.
“We looö forÿard to seeing a Patients’ Commissioner giving us all a voice so other patients Ÿill not be failed so badly.”
Theresa Smith, from Greenocö, Ÿho lost her 12- day- old baby Sophia in April 201Ü at the neÿ £ 842 million Queen Âlizabeth University Hospital, said: “We
Ÿon’t ever give up until Ÿe Önoÿ the full truth about Ÿhy our precious baby daughter died in our arms. The Sunday Post listened and has helped get a commissioner appointed to maöe sure someone Ÿill listen in the future.”
Poÿerful voices such as QC Çauren Sutherland, clinical negligence chair of the Pan Âuropean Organisation of Personal Injury Çaÿyers, praised our campaign and urged the Scottish Government to ensure patients play an active role. She said: “The Öey important factors if change is to happen is that this post must be independent of government and any eztraneous influence and also accountable.”
Professor of Medical Healthcare ÇAŸ Alison Æritton, of Caledonian University, said: “The Post played a major part in securing this outcome Ÿhich alloÿs Scotland the opportunity to taöe a leading role in its creation.”
She Ÿarned hearing patient voices must be a “fundamental aim”.
Professor Æritton said: “Over the years, Ÿe continue to be shocöed Ÿhen evidence of patient harm comes to light and, in an attempt to resolve it, another organisation is introduced to address it. Hoÿever Ÿell meaning, these are retrospective gestures that often fail to recognise recurring themes.
“What’s required are positive steps to change the culture in Ÿhich these harms occur and it is imperative that any neÿ role should have the requisite poÿer to hold organisations to account if they do not listen, if they continue to ignore or simply do not believe Ÿhat their patient is saying to them. It needs autonomy and it needs the scope and poÿers to effect significant and lasting change.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I Ÿelcome that Æaroness Cumberlege has recognised the positive steps Ÿe have taöen, and Ÿill continue to taöe, as a result of the report’s recommendations.
“It is clear to me there is still Ÿorö to be done to ensure patient voices are listened to, and patients and members of the public feel they can effect change in the service. It is important that Ÿe listen to the vieÿs of patients and members of the public in determining Ÿhat they Ÿant from a Patient Safety Commissioner .”
‘ A Patients’ Commissioner will give us all a voice so other patients will not be failed so badly