Back in 2009 I was invited to write an article about ‘compassion fatigue in healthcare’ and the resources that L&D could use to prevent it. The opening line was ‘In healthcare, treating the symptoms isn't always enough…’ Yesterday in the face of the report on Stafford Hospital I wondered how widespread demands for compassion in healthcare three years ago have turned into pleas for basic care today.

Most people are drawn to a career in the health service because they are compassionate people who want to help others. Compassion is a desire to alleviate someone else’s suffering. It means treating people in a manner which demonstrates that you understand a little of what they’re enduring. According to the King’s Fund, who wrote a report on it in 2009, it’s a fundamental issue that should be a top priority for every hospital board.

And it can be done. In the UK and further afield there are examples of good practice. At Missouri Baptist Medical Centre staff have to deal with emotionally difficult situations as well as the challenges of providing exceptional health care. But they are still able to be there for patients and for each other - no matter how difficult the situation. See how they do it in our online video preview.

I’m not saying that getting a few nurses at Stafford to watch a training video would have prevented such awful outcomes for so many patients. The problems were much more endemic than that: The board refused to listen to the complaints of patients and staff; GPs and local MPs did not do enough to help; the local primary care trust failed to pick up problems. The Department of Health prioritised policies over patients…the list of institutions that failed to act is extensive. That said, showing good practice, and reminding front line healthcare staff why compassion matters, seems as good a place as any to start.

Martin Addison is CEO at Video Arts