Department of Health
Mr Hunt said that the NHS needed a profound culture change which puts power into the hands of the millions of patients who use the NHS every day, enabling them to make informed choices about the services they use.
Mr Hunt called for a step change in transparency what he referred to as intelligent transparency. He said that by next March, England will become the first country in the world to publish avoidable deaths by hospital trusts as well as ratings on the overall quality of care provided to different patient groups in every local area.
Mr Hunt also announced:
- the need for a proper 7-day NHS service to ensure patients are as safe at weekends as they are during the week, which would be achieved by removing the opt out clause for weekend working for newly qualified consultant
- the NHS will become the worlds safest and largest learning organisation through the establishment of NHS Improvement the new name for the jointly led TDA and Monitor
- NHS Improvement will host a new Independent Patient Safety Investigation Service modelled on the air accident investigation branch used by the airline industry, which will be led by Dr Mike Durkin
- for the first time, GPs will be asked to inform patients of the Care Quality Commission rating and waiting time data at hospitals, enabling patients to choose with a more accurate picture of their local hospitals performance and quality
- meaningful choice and control for patients over services offered in maternity, end of life care and long term conditions
- work to be led by Martha Lane Fox to increase take-up of new digital innovations in health
Mr Hunt also discussed Lord Roses report into leadership in the NHS which was be published today.
The governments response to the Freedom to Speak Up consultation, Morecombe Bay investigation and Public Administration Select Committee reports from the previous parliamentwas also published today.