Hear Our Voice The Campaign
Landmark report panel join MSPs in letter appeal
Leading politicians of all parties have backed the Hear Our Voice campaign calling for the appointment of a Scottish Patients’ Commissioner.
In an unprecedented open letter to Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, politicians, including leaders of all the opposition parties, a former
First Minister and former health secretaries, have backed patients calling for a champion to raise concerns, investigate complaints and hold organisations to account.
Baroness Julia Cumberlege recommended a Patients’ Commissioner for England in her landmark review of treatments, including mesh implants. Her report, First Do No Harm, found patients had been badly let down and their concerns ignored. She believes Scotland could lead the rest of the UK in appointing a Patients’ Commissioner and has also signed the letter along with the other two members of her review team. Baroness Cumberlege said: “Without a Patients’ Commissioner we will be putting more patients at risk.”
The leaders of Scottish Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems and Greens backed the campaign. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients’ Association also signed the letter. They backed the campaign after patients and their families, including mesh-damaged women and parents of children lost during a contamination scandal at the flagship Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, told of their struggle to be heard in a system that, they said, appeared daunting and unresponsive.
Last week, Victoria Freeman, 32, told how she was still waiting for answers three years after son Mason Djemat, 3, died. She said: “Give a commissioner the power to prevent other families suffering like mine.”
Henry McLeish, former First Minister, said: “This seems a logical and desirable step forward.”
Ms Freeman has said officials are examining the contents of the Cumberlege Report and will look at recommendations including calls for a Patients’ Commissioner.
She said: “It is, however, important to recognise that our commitment to patient safety has been and remains key to delivering healthcare in Scotland. This commitment is demonstrated through the work of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme. We are also continuing to develop a person-centred approach to openness and learning in health and social care.”