‘Patients have to come first ...not a hospital’s reputation’
A CULTURE of putting hospital reputation above patient safety must be eradicated to prevent a repeat of Lucy Letby’s serial killings, experts insist.
The case of Britain’s worst child killer must be a “watershed moment” for the NHS and any investigation “must leave no stone unturned”, they say.
Dr Steve Brearey, a paediatric consultant at the Countess of Chester Hospital, was one of those who attempted to raise the alarm.
But the whistleblower claimed he was told contacting the police would be “terrible” for the hospital and turn the neonatal unit into a crime scene.
Leading medics warned that NHS whistleblowers were being “treated like the problem” and said “speaking up can end careers”.
Dr Naru Narayanan, president of the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, said: “It’s an appalling reminder of a culture which persists in some parts of our NHS despite the many, many warnings we’ve had over the years.
“All too often whistleblowers are treated by employers like the problem and find themselves on the receiving end of threats and bullying to remain silent. Speaking up can end careers.we’ve had report after report identifying the lack of an open culture where concerns can be raised.”
Anne Lloyd-keen, chair ofthe Patients Association and a registered nurse agreed and said: “The NHS should do much better to ensure our workforce prioritises the patient and has a free culture to admit to mistakes. An investigation must leave no stone unturned.this has to be a watershed moment.we have to feel safe in the care of any professional and what worries me about the Letby case is how it managed to continue for so long.”
Dr Bill Kirkup, who led the reviews into poor care at maternity units in Morecambe Bay and East Kent, said there were “common features” between the Letby case and reviews he has conducted into other NHS maternity units. He said: “There are a number of common features, particularly the chasm that can open up between clinicians who are reporting problems and managers who don’t necessarily want to hear. I heard the phrase ‘protecting reputation’ and that rings a massive bell.the first reaction in management is to protect reputations.
“And when that comes ahead of being open and honest about what’s going on, that’s tragic. We have to stop this.”
A leading hospital consultant involved with NHS patient safety likened the case to that of Harold Shipman, the GP who murdered up to 250 people over 24 years before he was jailed in 2000.
The expert, who asked not to be named, said: “People around Letby were very weak and the same applied to those around Harold Shipman.”
Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said:
“We need to see significant improvements to culture and leadership so the voices of staff and patients can be heard – with everyday pressures and mistakes and, very exceptionally, when there are warnings of real evil.”
Tory MP Dr Caroline Johnson said it was “completely unacceptable” hospital management did not immediately act on concerns flagged by consultants.
She said: “When you’ve got seven paediatricians looking after babies in a neonatal unit telling you in their expert opinion these events should not be occurring and there are unexpected collapses...that are leading to death, to then say you are not going to take action seems completely remarkable to me.”
Dr Nigel Scawn, medical director of the Countess of Chester Hospital, said: “Since Lucy Letby worked at our hospital, we have made significant changes. I want to provide reassurance every patient who accesses our services can have confidence in the care they will receive.”