NHS ombudsman Rob Behrens: ‘There are serious issues of concern’ (17 March 2024)

Summary

In this Guardian interview, Rob Behrens, the outgoing NHS Ombudsman for England, says that too much unsafe care is still happening in the health service and that a culture of cover up makes it hard for bereaved families to find out the truth about their loved one's death. He describes the NHS as a complex institution run by mostly excellent, committed staff that is beset by cultural issues and a focus on limiting reputational damage at the expense of transparency and fair treatment of staff who speak up.