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NHS hospital trust put in special measures over serious care failings NHS hospital trust put in special measures over serious care failings
(34 minutes later)
An NHS hospital trust has been put into special measures after inspectors found serious failings in the safety and quality of its care for patients, including untrained receptionists assessing how seriously unwell new arrivals at A&E were.An NHS hospital trust has been put into special measures after inspectors found serious failings in the safety and quality of its care for patients, including untrained receptionists assessing how seriously unwell new arrivals at A&E were.
West Hertfordshire Hospitals trust became the latest trust to be ordered to make big improvements after the Care Quality Commisison watchdog rated its services overall as “inadequate”. West Hertfordshire Hospitals trust became the latest trust to be ordered to make big improvements after the Care Quality Commission watchdog rated its services overall as “inadequate”.
CQC inspectors who visited the trusts’s three hospitals in April and May uncovered a series of problems, including: CQC inspectors who visited the trust’s three hospitals in April and May uncovered a series of problems, including:
• A&E patients at Watford general hospital facing long delays before they were examined by a doctor.• A&E patients at Watford general hospital facing long delays before they were examined by a doctor.
• Untrained staff assessing and directing the care of A&E arrivals.• Untrained staff assessing and directing the care of A&E arrivals.
• A chronic lack of nurses so serious that it posed “a major risk” to patients.• A chronic lack of nurses so serious that it posed “a major risk” to patients.
• Major staff shortages in its maternity unit too.• Major staff shortages in its maternity unit too.
• Patient safety “was not a sufficient priority”.• Patient safety “was not a sufficient priority”.
• A failure to act on the lessons of previous patient safety incidents.• A failure to act on the lessons of previous patient safety incidents.
• Facilities were in such a bad state of repair that they “caused a potential risk to staff and visitors”.• Facilities were in such a bad state of repair that they “caused a potential risk to staff and visitors”.
• Vital equipment, including that for resuscitating patients, was not always checked to ensure it was working.• Vital equipment, including that for resuscitating patients, was not always checked to ensure it was working.
In one of his most critical recent judgments on an NHS trust, Prof Sir Mike Richards, the CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, said his team’s findings meant he had to recommend the trust was put into the special measures regime. The NHS Trust Development Authority (NTDA), which oversees non-foundation trust hospitals, agreed to his request about the trust, which provides care for about 500,000 people in West Hertfordshire. In one of his most critical recent judgments on an NHS trust, Prof Sir Mike Richards, the CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, said his team’s findings meant he had to recommend the trust was put into the special measures regime.
CQC inspectors led by Tony Berendt, the medical director of Oxford University Hospitals NHS trust, said that although most staff were caring, compassionate and kind, quality of care was undermined by longstanding understaffing and overreliance on agency and locum staff. The NHS Trust Development Authority (NTDA), which oversees non-foundation trust hospitals, agreed to his request about the trust, which provides care for about 500,000 people in West Hertfordshire.
CQC inspectors led by Tony Berendt, the medical director of Oxford University Hospitals NHS trust, said that although most staff were caring, compassionate and kind, quality of care was undermined by longstanding understaffing and over-reliance on agency and locum staff.
While care in children’s and young people’s services was outstanding, “we found that the approach of some staff within the maternity unit and outpatient department required improvement”, said Richards. Low morale was common.While care in children’s and young people’s services was outstanding, “we found that the approach of some staff within the maternity unit and outpatient department required improvement”, said Richards. Low morale was common.
The CQC’s report on the trust highlights that staff did not always report patient safety incidents, “there was a lack of a safety culture” and “the trust lacked a systematic approach to the reporting and analysis of incidents. Where concerns, incidents and patient complaints were raised, or things went wrong, the approach to reviewing, investigating and learning was slow and in some cases absent.”The CQC’s report on the trust highlights that staff did not always report patient safety incidents, “there was a lack of a safety culture” and “the trust lacked a systematic approach to the reporting and analysis of incidents. Where concerns, incidents and patient complaints were raised, or things went wrong, the approach to reviewing, investigating and learning was slow and in some cases absent.”
Richards, though, praised the trust’s interim chief executive, Jac Kelly, for understanding the problems there and taking decisive action to tackle them.Richards, though, praised the trust’s interim chief executive, Jac Kelly, for understanding the problems there and taking decisive action to tackle them.
Kelly said: “I am confident that the energy and focus of staff in continuing to deliver improvements that are already making a difference for patients, together with the support we will receive through special measures, means we will progress even faster.”Kelly said: “I am confident that the energy and focus of staff in continuing to deliver improvements that are already making a difference for patients, together with the support we will receive through special measures, means we will progress even faster.”
Mark Cubbon, the NTDA’s portfolio director, said the trust would receive support to help it improve its services and quality of care. An improvement director will be appointed to help speed up that process.Mark Cubbon, the NTDA’s portfolio director, said the trust would receive support to help it improve its services and quality of care. An improvement director will be appointed to help speed up that process.