Following the recent publication of the Francis Report, RSPH and the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM) offer the following response.

The failing in care at Mid Staffordshire NHS foundation must act as a stimulus to ensure that the experience of the Stafford families is not repeated anywhere else in the NHS.

The IHM believe Quality of Care must be at the centre of managerial decision making. However, as NHS managers are accountable to Parliament for providing services within a budget, skilful NHS management must ensure that both of these requirements are taken into consideration. While finance should never become the overriding consideration, it must not be ignored.

Poor care is simply not acceptable. It is not universal in today’s NHS. Many thousands of NHS staff are highly focused and care deeply about the service their patients receive.

Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive of RSPH and the IHM said: “Professional bodies should take the lead in changing the culture of the NHS. This must be a shared responsibility between clinical leadership and general management. The Institute will want to play a leading role in finding the right solutions.”

Some parts of the NHS are under considerable pressure which can compromise quality standards. This is unacceptable.

“NHS Managers have been working with their clinical colleagues for many years in the search for means of delivering better health care. Stafford gives this search a new and important impetus and we must all be diligent to ensure that the report results in actual changes to the healthcare system” Professor Brian Edwards, former IHM President.

The Institute of Healthcare Management will review the conduct of any of its members who are criticised by the Francis Inquiry.