OXFORD Health (the new non-descriptive moniker for the mental health trust) hardly comes out of the Stephen Swift affair with much credit or credibility.
Swift seems to have been given the running of a mental health ward at the Warneford merely by telling his bosses he was registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Which was not true.
Intriguingly, the tale of Swift’s escapades include a seemingly fake claim that he was dead when investigators were trying to track him down, and his dishonesty cannot be excused.
But he is not solely at fault. It is beyond credulity that in 2008 a trust charged with the care of extremely vulnerable adults and adolescents could be so easily duped.
As usual we have the official statement reassuring the public that lessons have been learned and a repeat could not happen, yet a refusal to bravely, honestly and publicly detail what went wrong.
So can anyone really be sure that any old Tom, Dick or Harry can’t pitch up at the front door and be given the run of the place?
Oxford Health may be easy to take as mugs, but it should credit the taxpayer with more intelligence.
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