Open letter to seek accountability over the CQC coverup at Morecambe Bay

Dear Sir

We are appalled at the recent revelations in relation to a cover-up at the Care Quality Commission over deaths at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust. As health care workers, it is our professional responsibility to put the care of our patients ahead of all other considerations. Indeed, the General Medical Council make this explicit for doctors “Make the care of your patient your first concern”- all health care professional regulators make similar assertions.

Thus, we are extremely disappointed that the CQC in its report has failed to explicitly identify the individuals responsible for the cover-up nor give any kind of guarantee that they will be held accountable. The public has an absolute right to know who is responsible for the cover-up, and the suggestion that the Data Protection Act applies is a fallacy. The failure, to date by both the CQC and the government, to take these steps, means that there is no likelihood of fully learning the lessons and ensure that there is no repetition.

Dishonesty and cover-ups have no place in the NHS. As such, we will be writing to all our professional bodies and Royal Colleges asking for their support in ensuring there is a full and open investigation into this cover-up which has implications far beyond Morecambe and centre on our core professional values of delivering high quality patient care with honesty and transparency. Anything less would be to let down our patients.