NHS: Standards

Question

National Health Service funding has risen in each year of this parliament and is £12.7 billion higher in cash terms in 2014-15 than in 2010-11. The NHS is on track to make up to £20 billion efficiency savings this parliament to reinvest into frontline care. We are confident that it will continue to make the efficiency improvements necessary to meet rising demand and protect the quality of the services delivered.

In a recent report commissioned by the Department, Frontier Economics has estimated that poor care could be costing the NHS up to £2.5 billion every year. In order to focus attention on the harms contributing to these costs and the savings that could be reinvested, a poster and leaflet will go out to all NHS hospitals to display this vital information to their staff.

We have introduced a wide range of measures, including the Sign Up to Safety Campaign, Patient Safety Collaboratives, a new tougher inspection regime for providers and a reformed National Patient Safety Alert System to reduce mistakes in practice. In order to promote a culture of openness and transparency, that will enable organisations to learn from their mistakes, there will be the duty of candour in the event of serious harm. We are also publishing information on hospital performance, including staffing levels, as part of the new MyNHS website.