#13
" SIR - In the Nineties the medical royal colleges played a major role in inspecting hospitals. One reason they were so successful was that staff were interviewed individually, but in subsequent reports, criticisms were not attributed to individuals, so that they could not be harassed as whistleblowers.
We and other royal colleges were criticised by the then health secretary on two grounds. First, the time taken for inspections, often three or four days, with staff being away from their duties .
Secondly, the demands we made for improved services before continuing with recognition of a particular department. These were said to slow "throughput".
The Government took inspecting rights away from the royal colleges at the turn of the century. I have no doubt that the problems at Mid Staffordshire would not have occurred had they been allowed to continue with their inspections.
Professor Charles Galasko
Past chairman, Hospital Recognition Committee, Royal College of Surgeons of England
Gatley, Cheshire "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/9876166/The-Government-must-have-known-about-the-damaging-culture-in-the-National-Health-Service.html