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Colchester hospital still falling short after two years, watchdog finds Colchester hospital still falling short after two years, watchdog finds
(about 2 hours later)
The standard of care given to patients at an NHS hospital that has been in special measures for nearly two years remains inadequate, a health watchdog has said.The standard of care given to patients at an NHS hospital that has been in special measures for nearly two years remains inadequate, a health watchdog has said.
At Colchester general hospital in Essex, between 80% and 100% of the nurses on some shifts are agency or temporary workers, a report on the latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reveals.At Colchester general hospital in Essex, between 80% and 100% of the nurses on some shifts are agency or temporary workers, a report on the latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reveals.
Care records were disorganised, decisions on whether to resuscitate patients were not made according to national guidance, and there were delays in checks on patients whose conditions were at risk of deteriorating, it said. There were also failings in medicine rounds and providing intravenous care, the commission’s report on the July inspection said.Care records were disorganised, decisions on whether to resuscitate patients were not made according to national guidance, and there were delays in checks on patients whose conditions were at risk of deteriorating, it said. There were also failings in medicine rounds and providing intravenous care, the commission’s report on the July inspection said.
On one ward, equipment and items were stored in the corridors, the lights were not turned off at night to allow patients to rest and the door to a roof terrace was open, meaning patients could go outside unattended, potentially putting them at risk, the inspectors said.On one ward, equipment and items were stored in the corridors, the lights were not turned off at night to allow patients to rest and the door to a roof terrace was open, meaning patients could go outside unattended, potentially putting them at risk, the inspectors said.
The 560-bed hospital is the main acute site run by the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation trust. The two visits in July were not announced in advance and followed concerns raised with the CQC over staffing and standards of care. Inspectors will be back later this month for a more formal three-day check. The 560-bed hospital is the main acute site run by the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation trust. The two visits in July were not announced in advance and followed concerns raised with the CQC over staffing and standards of care. Inspectors will return later this month for a more formal three-day check.
Related: Colchester hospital records 563 serious incidents in two yearsRelated: Colchester hospital records 563 serious incidents in two years
The trust was identified nationally as having high mortality rates in 2013 and, following concerns regarding the authenticity of cancer waiting times, was placed in special measures in November 2013. The latest criticism is on standards in seven inpatient wards, three surgical and four medical wards.The trust was identified nationally as having high mortality rates in 2013 and, following concerns regarding the authenticity of cancer waiting times, was placed in special measures in November 2013. The latest criticism is on standards in seven inpatient wards, three surgical and four medical wards.
The chief inspector of hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, said he was concerned that the trust had not taken sufficient action to remedy failings in previous inspections. Patients continued “to experience a poor level of care and treatment” with not enough staff to meet their needs. The chief inspector of hospitals, Prof Sir Mike Richards, said he was concerned that the trust had not taken sufficient action to remedy failings in previous inspections. Patients continued “to experience a poor level of care and treatment” with not enough staff to meet their needs.
He said: “Agency staff brought in did not always have an effective induction and we found that important competency and induction checklists were not available on the wards.”He said: “Agency staff brought in did not always have an effective induction and we found that important competency and induction checklists were not available on the wards.”
There was poor hand hygiene by staff while obtaining consent for medical procedures and treatment did not follow trust policy, particularly when patients lacked the mental capacity to make their own decisions, the inspection report said. There was poor hand hygiene by staff while obtaining consent for medical procedures and treatment did not follow trust policy, particularly when patients lacked the mental capacity to make their own decisions, the report said. Concerns were raised about measures to reduce the risk of pressure sores and the oral hygiene of patients.
Concerns were also raised about measures to reduce the risk of pressure sores and the oral hygiene of patients.
Lucy Moore, the trust’s chief executive, said:“We are aware of the ongoing need for improvement. The examples of poor care identified are unacceptable to us and I apologise on behalf of the trust to any patient or their family who has been affected.Lucy Moore, the trust’s chief executive, said:“We are aware of the ongoing need for improvement. The examples of poor care identified are unacceptable to us and I apologise on behalf of the trust to any patient or their family who has been affected.
“They do not reflect the standards we expect to be given consistently to all of our patients. Immediate action was taken in the specific ward areas where issues were identified and we have taken the further opportunity to refocus our improvement plan and redouble our efforts to increase the pace of change.”“They do not reflect the standards we expect to be given consistently to all of our patients. Immediate action was taken in the specific ward areas where issues were identified and we have taken the further opportunity to refocus our improvement plan and redouble our efforts to increase the pace of change.”
Moore said the trust’s actions included a new ward induction programme for agency and locum staff, checks on the “acuity and dependency needs” of patients that had led to increased staff on a number of wards, and an updated policy on medicine management. Moore said the trust’s actions included a new ward induction programme for agency and locum staff, checks on the “acuity and dependency needs” of patients that had led to increased staff on a number of wards and an updated policy on medicine management. She said recent audits on urgent care wards showed all decisions not to resuscitate patients were appropriate.
She said recent audits on urgent care wards showed all decisions not to resuscitate patients were appropriate.