When an organisation fails: lessons from Stafford and beyond

As we await the results of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry,1 this article explores the similarities between the failures of care at Mid Staffs and the collapse of Lehman Brothers bank in the US. Both attracted considerable scrutiny and opprobrium from government, regulators and the public. In each case many of their shortcomings were caused by a combination of management culture, lack of accountability and poor understanding (and assessment) of risk. Above all, and in the most basic terms, they seemed to have been ignorant of (or wilfully ignored) the consequences their actions would have on the well-being of the people for whom they were responsible.