title: From harm to hope and purposeful action: what could we do after Francis?
abstract: Responses to the reports on the inquiry into Mid Staffordshire have resulted in calls from politicians, NHS leaders and the public to improve care across the NHS in England. However, the substance of what needs to be done remains unclear. In this paper, we offer seven key 'ingredients' required to sustain improvement of care, supported by evidence drawn from published literature. We believe that empowering and upskilling the front-line workforce in understanding and implementing improvement techniques, supported by changes at system and policy level and reinforced by what leaders say and do, will result in sustainable benefit for patients and families, as well as greater satisfaction for staff.
authors.affiliation: Safer Care South West, Royal United Hospital Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Tricia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Woodhead
authors.affiliation: Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lachman
authors.affiliation: UCLPartners, London, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mountford
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Botwinick
authors.affiliation: Royal United Hospital, Bath and NHS England (South), Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peden
authors.affiliation: Clinical Effectiveness & Evaluation Unit, Royal College of Physicians, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013222:State Medicine
keywords: Collaborative, Breakthrough Groups; Healthcare Quality Improvement; Leadership; Medical Education; Patient Safety