A year after after the publication of his influential report, Robert Francis QC has reasserted the need for professionalism among NHS staff.
Mr Francis made 296 recommendations for change, the majority of which were accepted — at least in part — by the Government. ‘The Francis Report: One Year On’, published by the Nuffield Trust, examines how acute Trusts in England have responded to the recommendations.
It finds many of the themes, including the importance of openness, adequate staffing levels and a patient-centred culture, have resonated with leaders of the hospitals who responded to a survey for the report. However, it also highlights warnings from hospital leaders that meeting financial goals and ensuring safe staffing levels was very difficult and would only get harder.
In a foreword, Mr Francis said: “Change will not happen without the determination of healthcare professionals to put their values into practice, and to individually and collectively put the patient first in all that they do. This involves commitment, courage and collective action in the interests of their patients. It involves listening to those patients, and to colleagues, and learning from them better and safer ways of providing the service.”
