Heard this afternoon that there is more delay around the publication of the Mazars death review because now the completeness of the data the investigation team used is being questioned. There has already been an independent academic review of the methodology used but this review didn’t cover the completeness of the data. Ho hum.

Three or four weeks ago I wrote about the completely different treatment NHS England have meted out to the second review they commissioned, Verita 2, which had holes in its methodology you could post a tanker through (and, not surprisingly, uncontroversial conclusions depending on which side of the professional divide you sit). That review was published in a blink with minimal apparent scrutiny.

The Mazars review (unless a whole new set of data is suddenly found in some dark and dusty corner somewhere) has far reaching, harrowing and deeply serious implications and will (or certainly should) lead to swift and urgent action. It shines a light on beyond shameful practices and beyond the walls of the Sloven empire clearly demonstrates how the government response so far to the evidence we have of the premature deaths of a certain group of people is insubstantial frippery. Just tinkering round the edges while people continue to die and are swept aside. Carelessly.

It also shows how buckets full of courage are needed to effectively challenge systemic crap and that Mazars may be that rare beast. An independent organisation conducting truly independent, independent reviews.