Stephen Metcalfe, local MP
for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed the findings of the Keogh
Review and has expressed his confidence that the new management regime has the
ability to put right the failures of the past.
Stephen Metcalfe MP said: “It
was not a surprise that Basildon Hospital was one of 14 Hospitals selected to
be investigated and again, not surprising that it is one of eleven hospitals
now in special measures as a result of the Keogh review.”
“We have known for a long
time that the hospital faces a number of serious challenges and I am pleased
that these are now being addressed in a robust fashion. Under the new
leadership, progress has been made and we are undoubtedly heading in the right
direction.”
“There is clearly still a lot
to do and this will take time but I have every confidence that the Hospital can
rise to the challenge of meeting the measures outlined in the Keogh report.
I will do all I can to support this process and look forward to seeing a
much improved hospital serving the local community in the future.”
“The shame is it has taken
nearly 12 years to get to a point where we are really tackling the challenges.
As early as 2001 it was identified that the hospitals had higher than expected
mortality rates and yet nothing seemed to be done until 2009 when an
investigation was launched, four weeks after the Hospital had been rated ‘Good’
by the previous now failed inspection regime. For each of the preceding years
the Hospital was judged to be “Good” while the mortality rate was vastly higher
than expected, this begs the question – why was nothing done before 2009, and
why was no one highlighting the discrepancy between the rating and the
reality?”
Since 2010 and with work
behind the scenes from local MPs, the Hospital has started to make progress –
the Hospital now have a new Chairman, a new Chief Executive and a new board and
management team, we all now must support this new regime to make the changes
need to deliver safe hospital and quality healthcare.
In response to a question
from Stephen Metcalfe in the House of Commons yesterday,
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, replied: “We
will, of course, give every support to the management at Basildon to turn
around their hospitals.” He also commented on the number of nurses which have
increased by 100 since the last election, and will increase by a further 200 in
light of the report.
After the statement, Mr
Metcalfe congratulated the Secretary of State for putting patients first and
for starting to create a more open and transparent National Health Service.
