Derek McCarthy

I am a retired Director of Psychiatric Nursing and since retirement 20 years ago I have been a Member of the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC)and Care Quality Commission (CQC)I undertook my training in a large psychiatric hospital in the north of England. It was during my training that I witnessed not only good nursing but unfortunately a high level of abuse and neglect also. During that period I developed an understanding of why good front line staff are fearful of complaining. I was also made aware that managers verbal commitment to good care is often belied by their practices. I have spent many years trying to make it easier for good nurses to complain and have their complaints acted on appropriately. However after 50 years have passed "Whistle Blowers" are still suppressed by managers and members of Trust Boards. Sweeping thing under the carpet is still the preferred option. I have written a stark account of my five years as a student and staff nurse to break the still existing wall of silence surrounding those days. Today some things have not changed and local and National Enquiries appear to be becoming even more frequent. No effective early warning system exists and externals national organisations set up to monitor standards are not structured, staffed or organised in a way that will make it easier for good front line staff to make their observations known. Quotes (1) "The ill treated dead cannot speak today of the pain and suffering they endured.(2)"For evil to prosper all that is required is for good people to do nothing."