Tuesday 23 April 2013

Liverpool Care Pathway - The Cult Culture


Like the secret society, this cult culture that works to protect the wrong-doer and excuse the wrong, singles out for reprisal those who raise objection.



West London Branch Motion brought at  CWU Retired Members Conference -

  "Anonymity for relatives and care home workers, who wish to make a 
  complaint, to do so without fear of reprisal. "

"This Conference notes that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in relation to care for the elderly is not fit for purpose. The CQC Board and the organisation need to be restructured so that there are no Board members with any financial interest in the provision of care for the elderly, including Board members of Private Care providers, preventing any conflict of interest. 
This conference further notes that the Inspectorate Service should be given powers to issue improvement notices to be complied with within 30 days; the next stage being able to instigate closure of the home with all costs incurred, including movement of patients, to be borne by the provider. There should be, additionally, a provision for anonymity for relatives and care home workers, who wish to make a complaint, to do so without fear of reprisal. 
This conference therefore instructs the Retired Members Advisory Committee, with the assistance of the NEC, to organise a mass campaign within the Trade Union and wider Labour movement to obtain these objectives."
The motion was carried and selected to be submitted to the Union's General Conference. [CWU]


The Guardian reported -


"In all, 5,277 (64%) of the 8,262 nurses surveyed by pollsters ICM for the RCN had raised a concern, mostly about unsafe staffing (48%) or patient safety (21%). But 24% said they were discouraged or warned off taking any further action by managers or colleagues. 
Almost half (45%) of those who had voiced disquiet said their employer took no action as a result, while 44% said fears about being victimised or suffering reprisals had made them think twice about speaking out again in case they were seen as troublemakers."

This culture that persists in the NHS and elsewhere is fostered and encouraged by both N&MC and the GMC.

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