Handbags   (The sad, the bad and the ugly. Non-productive stuff here.)

I remember an inspection in 1970's: not an external agency, but the district Management Team inspecting a long stay psychiatric Ward, of which, complaints had been received.

One member of the team noticed that every patient had a new toothbrush!

She returned unannounced early the following morning, to discover that every patient now had an OLD toothbrush!

Whilst arrangements have to be in place for visiting inspections, it does need to be balanced by a degree of unannounced inspection also being included.

NHS managers have a track record of diverting money from patient care and spending it on massaging their performance indicators: we had wheels taken off trolleys, and calling them beds - Sheets of OSB strung between pillars adjacent to A&E, and calling it an Admissions Ward etc etc.