The latest “bulletin” for clinical commissioning groups out of the Quarry House Quango In the Sky may have been a little bit too open.

NHS England’s deputy chief executive Dame Barbara Hakin, writing about patient safety, writes: “Dr Don Berwick, in his advisory role as chief inspector of hospitals, spoke at a conference in London last week on how he and a panel of experts will try to offer guidance on the next steps following Mid-Staffordshire.”

Although the missive strips Professor Berwick of his professorship, the international quality improvement expert is somewhat promoted from his role as chair of a patient safety review, to the holder of the hotly anticipated – but not yet filled – chief inspector post.

Perhaps NHS England – bearing in mind its commitment to transparency – is revealing something we don’t know about Professor Berwick’s job prospects.