MPS survey on Chief Inspector of Hospitals reveals doctors’ concerns

A survey of nearly 800 UK hospital doctors conducted by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) has revealed 55% see the Chief Inspector of Hospitals’ role as just another layer of bureaucracy that will achieve no real change. Furthermore, 55% also believe it will not be sufficiently independent of government and, while many respondents do not have a view, 45% believe the role will not support a change to the culture of openness that is needed in hospitals.

The Chief Inspector of Hospitals post was created by the government in response to the findings of the Francis report into failings at the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust and is tasked with improving standards of care in hospitals.

The MPS survey, the largest survey of hospital doctors on the role of the Inspector, also revealed 29% ranked appropriate staffing as the most important issue to be addressed in order for them to be able to deliver high quality care and 26% ranked appropriate workloads as the top priority.

Views about the importance of stronger clinical leadership were strongly divided; 26% ranked this as the most important and 36% ranked it as least important of the options given.

When asked to comment on the professional conduct of their colleagues, 25% of the doctors surveyed by MPS believe standards have deteriorated with 81% of them attributing this to 'targets trumping clinical needs' and 77% on a 'reduction in continuity of care'.

Dr Stephanie Bown, Director of Communications and Policy at the MPS, said, 'Whilst the Medical Protection Society survey does reveal concerns regarding the independence of the role of Chief Inspector of Hospitals and its ability to achieve change, only 25% of the hospital doctors we surveyed do not support the position. This is a sharp contrast to the recent NHS Confederation survey that found 71% of senior managers did not support the post.'

The MPS surveyed a total of 787 hospital doctors across all hospital specialities from junior doctors to senior consultants. Dr Bown continued, 'MPS is committed to working with members to support them in providing the highest quality of care to their patients. We see the appointment of Professor Sir Mike Richards as an important opportunity for the medical profession to share their thoughts on how to improve the culture and standards of care in hospitals. We hope he will listen.'