In a speech on Today, Jeremy Hunt attacked a culture of "complacency" and "low aspirations", which he believes is holding the NHS in England back. He is expected to say while there is a concerted effort to tackle failing hospitals, there should also be a focus on "mediocrity". Mr Hunt's comments come a month after the problems at Stafford Hospital were laid bare. The final report of the public inquiry into the scandal, published at the start of February, attacked the way the system protected corporate self-interest rather than putting patients first.
The warnings have already led to investigations into 14 hospital trusts with high death rates. Mr Hunt, in his speech to the Nuffield Trust think-tank in Dorking, Surrey, said part of the challenge is tackling "mediocrity and low expectations before they turn into failure and tragedy". It is commonly said about a 10th of hospital trusts are failing, although double that are actually not meeting all the essential standards set out by the Care Quality Commission.
That leaves about 80% of trusts that are doing what they should. Some of these will be excellent - perhaps about 10-15% - and some will be striving to become excellent - perhaps a similar number. That leaves close to half that could be said to be stuck in the middle, coasting along.'Complacency'
Mr Hunt said "Coasting can kill. Not straight away, but over time as complacency sets in, organisations look inwards, standards drop and then suddenly something gives. "I would never describe the majority of hospitals or wards in the NHS as mediocre - but I do believe our system fails to challenge low aspirations in too many parts of the system."
Dr Richard Taylor the Co-Leader of the National Health Action Party rounded on Jeremy Hunt: "It is indefensible of Jeremy Hunt to lay the blame for poor quality health care on NHS staff when the previous government and the coalition never let them get on with their job without the distraction of frequent re-disorganisations of the health service. The forced aim to achieve foundation trust status, centrally imposed targets and now, worst of all, the distraction of the Health and Social Care Act effectively prevent doctors and nurses from concentrating on their main task, that of providing high quality, safe health care for all. When will successive governments learn that the vast majority of doctors and nurses took up their careers because of their dedication to caring for and treating patients in the best ways possible?"
