The road to better patient care

The Francis report (The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry, 2013) published earlier this year emphasised the need for a cultural change within the NHS. Highlighting the failure of the Mid Stafforshire NHS Foundation Trust to detect poor quality care and to ensure that its services met the standards that the public expects, the 3-volume, 1782-page report called for a patient-centred culture, which has a commitment to serve and protect patients.

Though the Francis report focused on a single NHS Trust, its recommendation for the need of a structure of fundamental standards, which identify the basic principles of care a patient can expect, and stronger healthcare leadership, are applicable to the NHS as a whole.

The provision of safe and effective care often starts with the paramedic, and so it is imperative that the highest quality services possible are delivered. As a profession that is rapidly taking on increasing responsibilities within the NHS, the paramedic profession has to ensure it is able to keep up with its broadening demands. One of the ways it can ensure this is done is by getting the simple things right. The importance of thorough patient assessment and accurate history taking cannot be undervalued, as it is this that informs the clinician of the appropriate action and treatment to carry out. This issue of the Journal of Paramedic Practice goes back to basics by exploring the fundamentals of paramedicine that are often overlooked, with articles on integrated care, patient assessment and history taking.