Hospital inquiries. The listening blank.

The major failures reported in the Bristol inquiry have been highlighted in most hospital inquiry reports over the past 30 years. The tendency to victimise the whistleblower has characterised virtually all inquiries. Inadequate leadership, isolation, system failures, poor communication and disempowerment of staff and service users are the common themes. While organisational reform is essential, the real challenge is to change behaviour. And this depends on the example of senior staff.