Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is working in Watford General Hospital’s A&E as part of a government initiative to give health ministers frontline experience.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is working in Watford General Hospital’s A&E as part of a government initiative to give health ministers frontline experience.
His roles will include cleaning, portering and observing the clinical work of doctors and nurses at the hospital, HSJ reported.
Late last month Hunt announced all Department of Health (DH) civil servants and ministers would have frontline NHS work experience over the next four years, as part of the government response to the Francis Inquiry.
Robert Francis’ report, which looked into the failings at Mid Stafforshire Hospital, said DH civil servants should “reconnect” with the patient experience.
A DH spokesman said: “We can confirm Jeremy Hunt is visiting Watford General Hospital this morning as part of a back to the floor experience as is his private secretary.”
Hunt was accompanied by his private secretary Rebecca Besalel, who is believed to have been working separately on a surgical ward.
