Bedsores again

The Telegraph's junior doctor picks up the recent report on bedsores (see here).

He writes that bedsores are always preventable. So "NHS bosses and the Department of Health should adopt a zero tolerance policy for bedsores".

Given that with proper nursing and medical care they are preventable, in every case, it should be viewed as a case of professional negligence. The managers responsible for the ward or nursing home should face disciplinary procedures and if someone dies, instant dismissal. When faced with this kind of threat, I suspect that very quickly, the problem would start to improve.

Well of course he's right. That would be happening if the NHS was rigorous about always putting patients first.

But that régime's not there - which demonstrates the NHS's priorities.

Even more worryingly, there are no official figures for bedsores in care home residents, yet in every patient I have seen with them, this is where they have developed. Severe financial penalties might force owners of these homes to invest in ensuring they never occur.

CQC, anyone?

By their deeds shall ye know them. The tolerance of bedsores demonstrates the priorities of the healthcare industry as no words can.

Too big to be accountable.