Post by Teddy Bear on Feb 29, 2012 21:22:27 GMT
To understand the full impact of the BBC bias involved in this thread you have to read this article first to see just who Cynthia Bower is, what it is she's done (or more accurately failed to do), and what she's got away with.
(links available on article itself)
With all this in mind, see how the BBC have reported her 'resignation'. WOuld you believe they are writing about the same person?
Any intelligent person would deem health to be more important than money, and the negative impact this woman's gross negligence has had on the people in her care has been massive. I hope the families of those affected by this will sue her for everything she has, or will ever have.
As it stands she receives an indecent amount of money, for complete failure. The BBC weren't shy about demonizing the bankers, yet see how they report the story of this woman, who is guilty of far greater unethical and immoral behaviour, betraying completely the trust placed in her.
By coincidence, James Murdoch has resigned from News International today.
Just see how many stories the BBC have devoted to this, compared to those on Bower. Do you think they have their priorities wrong?
(links available on article itself)
Left-wingers are quick to attack greedy bankers. So why are they letting Cynthia Bower off the hook?
By Judith Potts Health and lifestyle Last updated: February 29th, 2012
Please could somebody explain to me how the Care Quality Commission could say, in its annual report, that it had carried out 15,220 inspections – of 20,000 care homes, hospitals, GP practices and other care providers – when, in truth, it had inspected less than half that number?
It took an undercover journalist to expose the full horror of Winterbourne View and the despicable treatment meted out by certain members of staff to the residents, despite a member of staff reporting the situation.
What was everyone at the Commission doing and why was Cynthia Bower (the CEO) ever appointed to the job? Considering she had previously been CEO of the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority under whose auspices over a thousand patients died from neglect at Stafford Hospital, who thought it was a good idea to appoint her? I understand that when confronted with the situation at Stafford, Cynthia Bower declared it a statistical blip and then, later, admitted it "wasn't on my radar". Breathtaking.
Patients in hospital and residents in care homes are among our most vulnerable people. Surely anyone who chooses to work for the CQC does so because he or she cares about the job – in other words, about these very vulnerable people.
More and more of us are living longer and will require residential care or 24-hour nursing. When my mother-in-law developed dementia, we were in the fortunate position of being recommended a care home for her. This has been a success. When my mother's Vascular Dementia appeared overnight to add to the complications of the Charles Bonnet Syndrome, the only care home available (and strongly recommended by the Social Services) was a place that resembled a Dickensian workhouse.
So horrified was I that, after leaving her there for the night, I visited every care home in the vicinity and was lucky enough to find a Barchester-run home, which had a room for her and 24-hour nursing. They did her proud for the last 18 months of her life. However, I checked on the websites of each care home to read the latest report and discovered that neither had been inspected for some time. Interestingly enough, when I informed the social worker that I would be moving my mother to a better nursing home, she was very hostile – that was until she visited the Dickensian workhouse and saw for herself just how appalling it was. That was when she confessed that she had never actually been there before, but had relied on reports of inspections.
Since then, in 2009, the Care Quality Commission has been established (enveloping the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission) as a super-regulator. I am sure that everyone assumed this would enable standards in hospitals and care homes to be kept up to scratch – but it appears that much of the budget was spent not on raising standards by inspections, but on refurbishments, junkets and Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the staff. The training seems to have been poor, and geared towards – as reported by the Health Select Committee – an obsession with "box-ticking" rather than inspecting the 20,000 establishments on their list.
This is more than inexcusable because the problem of neglect in hospitals and care homes was already well documented. It was not unearthed by the newly formed Commission. In fact, you could argue that the problem was exacerbated by the lack of action taken by CQC – which was expressly set up to police the system.
At the end of three years in the job, Cynthia Bower – who has been earning £195,000 per year – is leaving in the Autumn. She will receive a retirement sum of £200,000 and annual payments of £65,000. Is this fair or right?
Perhaps the next CEO will accept a smaller salary and some of the money saved can be invested in proper inspections, so that the vulnerable members of society can have the protection they deserve. We rightly condemn bankers for their greed and their bonuses. Is Mrs Bower any different?
By Judith Potts Health and lifestyle Last updated: February 29th, 2012
Please could somebody explain to me how the Care Quality Commission could say, in its annual report, that it had carried out 15,220 inspections – of 20,000 care homes, hospitals, GP practices and other care providers – when, in truth, it had inspected less than half that number?
It took an undercover journalist to expose the full horror of Winterbourne View and the despicable treatment meted out by certain members of staff to the residents, despite a member of staff reporting the situation.
What was everyone at the Commission doing and why was Cynthia Bower (the CEO) ever appointed to the job? Considering she had previously been CEO of the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority under whose auspices over a thousand patients died from neglect at Stafford Hospital, who thought it was a good idea to appoint her? I understand that when confronted with the situation at Stafford, Cynthia Bower declared it a statistical blip and then, later, admitted it "wasn't on my radar". Breathtaking.
Patients in hospital and residents in care homes are among our most vulnerable people. Surely anyone who chooses to work for the CQC does so because he or she cares about the job – in other words, about these very vulnerable people.
More and more of us are living longer and will require residential care or 24-hour nursing. When my mother-in-law developed dementia, we were in the fortunate position of being recommended a care home for her. This has been a success. When my mother's Vascular Dementia appeared overnight to add to the complications of the Charles Bonnet Syndrome, the only care home available (and strongly recommended by the Social Services) was a place that resembled a Dickensian workhouse.
So horrified was I that, after leaving her there for the night, I visited every care home in the vicinity and was lucky enough to find a Barchester-run home, which had a room for her and 24-hour nursing. They did her proud for the last 18 months of her life. However, I checked on the websites of each care home to read the latest report and discovered that neither had been inspected for some time. Interestingly enough, when I informed the social worker that I would be moving my mother to a better nursing home, she was very hostile – that was until she visited the Dickensian workhouse and saw for herself just how appalling it was. That was when she confessed that she had never actually been there before, but had relied on reports of inspections.
Since then, in 2009, the Care Quality Commission has been established (enveloping the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission) as a super-regulator. I am sure that everyone assumed this would enable standards in hospitals and care homes to be kept up to scratch – but it appears that much of the budget was spent not on raising standards by inspections, but on refurbishments, junkets and Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the staff. The training seems to have been poor, and geared towards – as reported by the Health Select Committee – an obsession with "box-ticking" rather than inspecting the 20,000 establishments on their list.
This is more than inexcusable because the problem of neglect in hospitals and care homes was already well documented. It was not unearthed by the newly formed Commission. In fact, you could argue that the problem was exacerbated by the lack of action taken by CQC – which was expressly set up to police the system.
At the end of three years in the job, Cynthia Bower – who has been earning £195,000 per year – is leaving in the Autumn. She will receive a retirement sum of £200,000 and annual payments of £65,000. Is this fair or right?
Perhaps the next CEO will accept a smaller salary and some of the money saved can be invested in proper inspections, so that the vulnerable members of society can have the protection they deserve. We rightly condemn bankers for their greed and their bonuses. Is Mrs Bower any different?
With all this in mind, see how the BBC have reported her 'resignation'. WOuld you believe they are writing about the same person?
23 February 2012
Care regulator head leaves post
The head of the body regulating health and social care has announced her resignation - as a critical government report into its work is published.
Cynthia Bower said it was "time to move on" from her post as England's Care Quality Commission chief executive.
The CQC came under attack last year over the exposure of abuse of residents at the Winterbourne View care home.
The Department of Health report said it had underestimated its task and could have done more to manage risks.
The CQC was heavily criticised over its handling of Winterbourne View, and accused of failing to act when it was warned of concerns first raised in an investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme.
Three people who worked at the home have admitted ill-treatment but eight cases are still to be heard by the courts.
The CQC has also been heavily criticised during the public inquiry into the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, and in reports by the Health Select Committee and the National Audit Office.
Core duties
The CQC began work in February 2009, bringing together three different organisations and registering more than 40,000 providers.
The Department of Health report said it had made "considerable achievements" and that, over recent months, there had been "significant improvements", with increases in the number of inspectors and more focus on "core duties" of registering and inspecting healthcare providers.
But it added: "The review found that the scale of this task had been underestimated by the CQC and the department, and more could have been done to manage risks during the early years of the organisation's operation."
It added: "The role of the CQC has not been as clear as it needs to be to health and care providers, patients and the public."
The review makes 23 recommendations on how the CQC - and the regulatory system as a whole - should improve.
It suggests the CQC should "raise its game" and work more closely with other regulators, and strengthen capability at executive board level.
And it suggests the Department of Health itself should do more to support the CQC and ensure that it is held to account for its role in regulating health and social care.
'Persistent failure'
Announcing her departure, Cynthia Bower said "After almost four years leading CQC, I feel that it is now time to move on.
"The process of setting up an entirely new system of regulation has been intensely challenging - but we have accomplished an enormous amount.
"We have merged three organisations, registered 40,000 provider locations and brought virtually the entire health and social care network under one set of standards, which focus on the needs of people who use services."
Kay Sheldon, a current CQC board member, said: "This is the right decision".
"I believe Cynthia Bower should have left before now given the serious and ongoing problems the organisation has faced.
"Today's capability review report raises significant questions about senior level competence in the organisation as well as the functioning of the board.
"The persistent failure to address, and at times acknowledge, the problems needs to be tackled if we are to achieve an effective and sustainable regulator that functions in the interest of patients and the public'.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "I would like to thank Cynthia for her work and leadership and wish her the best of luck for the future.
"Over the last year, we have seen CQC make improvements and respond to the need for enhanced scrutiny and enforcement of standards."
Deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, David Stout, said: "We are pleased that the government is more interested in changing how the CQC works and its focus rather than the form.
"There has been too much structural change to regulation. The organisation needs some stability to give it a fair chance of success."
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association improvement had been seen in the CQC's work.
But she said it still needed to make changes: "The CQC must do more to tackle poor care but it can only do this if it radically changes its approach.
"It must make sure they visit a representative selection of hospital services during an inspection, not focus on one or two wards."
"Now is the time to ensure that the care regulator is ready and able to provide quality regulation."
Care regulator head leaves post
The head of the body regulating health and social care has announced her resignation - as a critical government report into its work is published.
Cynthia Bower said it was "time to move on" from her post as England's Care Quality Commission chief executive.
The CQC came under attack last year over the exposure of abuse of residents at the Winterbourne View care home.
The Department of Health report said it had underestimated its task and could have done more to manage risks.
The CQC was heavily criticised over its handling of Winterbourne View, and accused of failing to act when it was warned of concerns first raised in an investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme.
Three people who worked at the home have admitted ill-treatment but eight cases are still to be heard by the courts.
The CQC has also been heavily criticised during the public inquiry into the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, and in reports by the Health Select Committee and the National Audit Office.
Core duties
The CQC began work in February 2009, bringing together three different organisations and registering more than 40,000 providers.
The Department of Health report said it had made "considerable achievements" and that, over recent months, there had been "significant improvements", with increases in the number of inspectors and more focus on "core duties" of registering and inspecting healthcare providers.
But it added: "The review found that the scale of this task had been underestimated by the CQC and the department, and more could have been done to manage risks during the early years of the organisation's operation."
It added: "The role of the CQC has not been as clear as it needs to be to health and care providers, patients and the public."
The review makes 23 recommendations on how the CQC - and the regulatory system as a whole - should improve.
It suggests the CQC should "raise its game" and work more closely with other regulators, and strengthen capability at executive board level.
And it suggests the Department of Health itself should do more to support the CQC and ensure that it is held to account for its role in regulating health and social care.
'Persistent failure'
Announcing her departure, Cynthia Bower said "After almost four years leading CQC, I feel that it is now time to move on.
The CQC
The Care Quality Commission began work in February 2009, taking over the responsibilities of the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission.
It was asked to regulate the NHS - within a new framework - for the first time. It is responsible for checking if hospitals and care homes meet minimum standards.
After undercover filming by the BBC's Panorama programme revealed abuse of residents at Winterbourne View care home in Bristol, the CQC came under fire for not acting on earlier reports of problems there.
It has also been in the spotlight during the public inquiry into the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.
The CQC was not the regulator when problems occurred at the trust - but criticisms of its current working practices emerged during the inquiry.
There is a recognition that the organisation has had to register over 21,000 care providers since 2010.
But in a report last September, MPs said processing these meant there were fewer resources available for carrying what the CQC's "core function" - inspections.
And, while crediting the CQC with significant improvements over the last nine months, the author of this latest government report said the "evidence has clearly shown there is more work to do".
"The process of setting up an entirely new system of regulation has been intensely challenging - but we have accomplished an enormous amount.
"We have merged three organisations, registered 40,000 provider locations and brought virtually the entire health and social care network under one set of standards, which focus on the needs of people who use services."
Kay Sheldon, a current CQC board member, said: "This is the right decision".
"I believe Cynthia Bower should have left before now given the serious and ongoing problems the organisation has faced.
"Today's capability review report raises significant questions about senior level competence in the organisation as well as the functioning of the board.
"The persistent failure to address, and at times acknowledge, the problems needs to be tackled if we are to achieve an effective and sustainable regulator that functions in the interest of patients and the public'.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "I would like to thank Cynthia for her work and leadership and wish her the best of luck for the future.
"Over the last year, we have seen CQC make improvements and respond to the need for enhanced scrutiny and enforcement of standards."
Deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, David Stout, said: "We are pleased that the government is more interested in changing how the CQC works and its focus rather than the form.
"There has been too much structural change to regulation. The organisation needs some stability to give it a fair chance of success."
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association improvement had been seen in the CQC's work.
But she said it still needed to make changes: "The CQC must do more to tackle poor care but it can only do this if it radically changes its approach.
"It must make sure they visit a representative selection of hospital services during an inspection, not focus on one or two wards."
"Now is the time to ensure that the care regulator is ready and able to provide quality regulation."
Any intelligent person would deem health to be more important than money, and the negative impact this woman's gross negligence has had on the people in her care has been massive. I hope the families of those affected by this will sue her for everything she has, or will ever have.
As it stands she receives an indecent amount of money, for complete failure. The BBC weren't shy about demonizing the bankers, yet see how they report the story of this woman, who is guilty of far greater unethical and immoral behaviour, betraying completely the trust placed in her.
By coincidence, James Murdoch has resigned from News International today.
Just see how many stories the BBC have devoted to this, compared to those on Bower. Do you think they have their priorities wrong?