THREAD: I asked what the point of Public Inquiries is for @bmj_latest
We've spent hundreds of millions of £ on Inquiries over last decades, generating deep understanding of failures & 1000s of recommendations.
But v few recommendations get implemented!
What is going on?
1/12
We've spent hundreds of millions of £ on Inquiries over last decades, generating deep understanding of failures & 1000s of recommendations.
But v few recommendations get implemented!
What is going on?
1/12
Comments
Unless you actually do want to change our world for the better.
But, for those involved in scandals that have only triennial or quinquennial reviews to turn to, an enquiry has the lure of public awareness, recognition and the potential for action
The Inquiries cost over £630 million and made 2,625 recommendations.
Only 6/68 Inquiries have received full scrutiny by a parliamentary select committee on implementation of recommendations. 3/12
https://thirlwall.public-inquiry.uk/document/review-of-the-implementation-of-recommendations-made-by-previous-inquiries-into-healthcare-issues/
Similar conclusions were in report commissioned by Health & Social Care Committee
https://guernseypress.com/news/uk-news/2024/03/22/concerns-over-governments-failure-to-act-on-patient-safety-recommendations/
4/12
This is exactly what recommendations are for! Failure of implementation means that important purpose (+ £millions) is ignored & wasted! 5/12
E.g. Australia, Canada, Ireland and South Africa all have different mechanisms for ensuring and supporting implementation of recommendations from their equivalents of our Inquiries. 7/12
1st report published (out of at least 9) found major flaws and proposed 10 recommendations.
Chances are low that they will be implemented :-( 2/12
Let’s them deflect from any uncomfortable questions for years, for many, until they’ve left office. Covid , Post Office, Phone Hacking , Grenfell tower, Infected Blood - etc anon. Will anything really change?
bonus of providing nice cosy jobs for mates and retired hangers-on.