It’s twelve months today since the second Verita investigation into the circumstances of LB’s death was published. I wrote this blog post a year ago, 10 reasons why I can’t support the Verita 2 conclusions and sadly since then I’ve become more convinced that I was right to mistrust it, not less (which is what I […]
Alternative title, not to be used publicly: how to protect your reputation at all costs When a patient dies Don’t bother apologising or the family might get the wrong idea and try to sue us. Assign as much as possible to ‘natural causes’, especially if they’re using mental health services, have a physical disability or are learning […]
Last week I wrote a post reflecting on the first week of LB’s inquest last year. It focused on some of the themes that emerged in that first week, the sprinklings of candour, the constant undercurrent of mother blaming, the contradictions and flaky knowledge of epilepsy, even then, years after LB died, years after Southern […]
All week we’ve been sharing some of the lowlights from LB’s inquest a year ago. Sara has blogged about how this strange anniversary feels for her and the utter despair at the complete absence, still, of anything vaguely resembling accountability: I think my new tear configuration has (re) emerged because of the utterly shameful banality […]
I’m not one for conspiracy theories, however, as the news spread that Katrina Percy has ‘reflected’ (it’s only taken her three years) and decided her employment at Southern Health was no longer tenable (Trust statement here), something just didn’t smell right. We’ve been around Southern Health long enough to know that very little smells right, but […]
I’m training for #CaminoLB at the moment which mostly involves wandering around in walking boots and a rucksack, putting one foot in front of the other and musing the latest madness at Southern Health. There’s been a lot of musing this week (although slightly less walking) as the latest development has seen Katrina Percy, CEO […]
The aspect of the #CQCDeathsReview that I’m most involved with focuses on the experience and treatment of families and bereaved relatives. This is the area that I’m most experienced in, and most interested in. It doesn’t come without some reservations and concerns though, some of which I’ve previously blogged here. I’m lucky because I have […]
A week or so ago I wrote a post introducing the Care Quality Commission Deaths Review and my initial thoughts about it. I’m not going to repeat it here, but please do go read it if you’re interested. The aspect of work I am most heavily involved with is looking to ensure families and bereaved relatives […]
A couple of months ago I agreed to be a Special Advisor for the CQC on a thematic review that they are conducting, looking at how the NHS investigates deaths, and how (if?) they learn from these investigations. The decision to take on this role was not an easy one for me. For many months […]
I’ve been using Twitter to communicate, to share, to think, reflect and learn, in one way or another for almost eight years. I joined on 8 September 2008 following an absolutely amazing weekend at the Do Lectures. You can find out when you joined if you’re interested by checking TwBirthday here, and you should definitely take […]