Balancing budgets and protecting patient safety through the Toyota suggestion system

Ham paints a gloomy picture of the problems facing the English NHS.1 He seems to conclude that there are only two viable options: to increase staff numbers and not balance budgets or to cut costs and staff, “even if it means compromising patient safety and quality.” His third option of protecting patient safety and quality and balancing budgets receives no critique. But this third option is the only viable long term …