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Addenbrooke's and Rosie hospitals' patients 'put at risk' Addenbrooke's and Rosie hospitals' patients 'put at risk'
(35 minutes later)
One of the UK's biggest NHS trusts has been placed in special measures after inspectors found it was "inadequate".One of the UK's biggest NHS trusts has been placed in special measures after inspectors found it was "inadequate".
Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, which runs Addenbrooke's and the Rosie Birth Centre, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission in April and May.Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, which runs Addenbrooke's and the Rosie Birth Centre, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission in April and May.
Inspectors expressed concerns about staffing levels, delays in outpatient treatment and governance failings.Inspectors expressed concerns about staffing levels, delays in outpatient treatment and governance failings.
But they said workers were prepared to go the extra mile for patients, rating the quality of care as "outstanding".But they said workers were prepared to go the extra mile for patients, rating the quality of care as "outstanding".
'Slap in face''Slap in face'
Prof Sir Mike Richards, the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) chief inspector of hospitals, said while hospital staff were "extremely caring and extremely skilled", senior management had "lost their grip on some of the basics".Prof Sir Mike Richards, the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) chief inspector of hospitals, said while hospital staff were "extremely caring and extremely skilled", senior management had "lost their grip on some of the basics".
"[Patients] are being put at risk," he said. "It is not that we necessarily saw actual unsafe practice but we did see they would be put at risk if you don't, for example, have sufficient numbers of midwives for women in labour.""[Patients] are being put at risk," he said. "It is not that we necessarily saw actual unsafe practice but we did see they would be put at risk if you don't, for example, have sufficient numbers of midwives for women in labour."
The trust, which is said to be predicting a £64m deficit this year, has apologised to patients.The trust, which is said to be predicting a £64m deficit this year, has apologised to patients.
Monitor, the health service regulator which has placed the trust in special measures, said it had an average overspend of £1.2m a week.Monitor, the health service regulator which has placed the trust in special measures, said it had an average overspend of £1.2m a week.
Addenbrooke's recent troubled history
The public sector union Unison, which represents health workers, said the inspections reflected unfairly on staff.The public sector union Unison, which represents health workers, said the inspections reflected unfairly on staff.
Addenbrooke's recent troubled history
Spokesman Stuart Tuckwood said: "To be told that the hospital is inadequate... is a slap in the face to our members and the healthcare staff that work there.Spokesman Stuart Tuckwood said: "To be told that the hospital is inadequate... is a slap in the face to our members and the healthcare staff that work there.
"The one thing that came out as really outstanding was the care delivered by our members and by all the staff at the hospital, so they can really hold their heads up and say they've done a good job under really trying conditions.""The one thing that came out as really outstanding was the care delivered by our members and by all the staff at the hospital, so they can really hold their heads up and say they've done a good job under really trying conditions."
The CQC found staff shortages and long-standing "serious" problems had been ignored.The CQC found staff shortages and long-standing "serious" problems had been ignored.
Its report said the trust must develop and implement a recovery plan to address its financial deficit and strengthen leadership by working with an "improvement director" appointed by Monitor.Its report said the trust must develop and implement a recovery plan to address its financial deficit and strengthen leadership by working with an "improvement director" appointed by Monitor.
Trust chairwoman Jane Ramsey said: "I would like to say sorry to our patients for a lack of effective systems and processes across our trust, which led to the CQC rating our hospitals as inadequate.Trust chairwoman Jane Ramsey said: "I would like to say sorry to our patients for a lack of effective systems and processes across our trust, which led to the CQC rating our hospitals as inadequate.
"We take this, and being placed in special measures by our regulator Monitor, very seriously."We take this, and being placed in special measures by our regulator Monitor, very seriously.
"We will take rapid action to address concerns and maintain our record of safety and high-quality care.""We will take rapid action to address concerns and maintain our record of safety and high-quality care."
Key findings at Addenbrooke's and Rosie hospitalsKey findings at Addenbrooke's and Rosie hospitals
Source: CQCSource: CQC
According to Monitor, special measures are applied to NHS trusts and foundation trusts where there are "serious failures in care quality and where there are concerns that existing management cannot make the necessary improvements without support". According to Monitor, after NHS trusts and foundation trusts are put in special measures, the CQC will "focus on identifying failures in the quality of care, judging whether improvements have been made and, where necessary, [use] enforcement powers to ensure that providers who are unable to meet required standards of quality and safety are not allowed to continue indefinitely".
Monitor has also imposed a new condition on the trust's licence, enabling the regulator to take further action, such as replacing senior staff, if improvements are not made swiftly enough.Monitor has also imposed a new condition on the trust's licence, enabling the regulator to take further action, such as replacing senior staff, if improvements are not made swiftly enough.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Nick Triggle, Health CorrespondentBy Nick Triggle, Health Correspondent
Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the Addenbrooke's story is not that such a world-renowned hospital has ended up in a predicament like this, but rather that it happened so quickly.Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the Addenbrooke's story is not that such a world-renowned hospital has ended up in a predicament like this, but rather that it happened so quickly.
A year ago the trust which runs the hospital - Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - wasn't even on the Care Quality Commission's radar in terms of being a failing centre.A year ago the trust which runs the hospital - Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - wasn't even on the Care Quality Commission's radar in terms of being a failing centre.
In fact, two years ago - as the regulator was embarking on its new inspection regime - it was among the band of hospitals considered to be the safest, according to the risk-rating system at the time.In fact, two years ago - as the regulator was embarking on its new inspection regime - it was among the band of hospitals considered to be the safest, according to the risk-rating system at the time.
But now a hospital which can boast to being a centre of excellence for major trauma, transplants, cancer, neurosurgery, genetics and paediatrics, has been judged to be a basket case and will join the 12 other failing hospitals already placed in special measures.But now a hospital which can boast to being a centre of excellence for major trauma, transplants, cancer, neurosurgery, genetics and paediatrics, has been judged to be a basket case and will join the 12 other failing hospitals already placed in special measures.
So what does this tell us about the state of health of the NHS? Sir Mike Richards, the CQC's chief inspector of hospitals, believes Addenbrooke's problems are largely of its own making, criticising the trust's management for "losing grip".So what does this tell us about the state of health of the NHS? Sir Mike Richards, the CQC's chief inspector of hospitals, believes Addenbrooke's problems are largely of its own making, criticising the trust's management for "losing grip".
The CQC report says the hospital is failing on safety but is still providing outstanding care, which may seem like a contradiction. But the criticisms are about overall management and low staff recruitment, rather than the quality of care given by individual members of staff who are doing a great job.The CQC report says the hospital is failing on safety but is still providing outstanding care, which may seem like a contradiction. But the criticisms are about overall management and low staff recruitment, rather than the quality of care given by individual members of staff who are doing a great job.
Certainly it seems to have made mistakes - as the troubles with its £200m computerised patient records programme illustrates - but it's hard to escape the feeling that this is just the tip of the iceberg.Certainly it seems to have made mistakes - as the troubles with its £200m computerised patient records programme illustrates - but it's hard to escape the feeling that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Read Nick's blog in fullRead Nick's blog in full
The CQC also found routine operations were frequently cancelled and maternity services regularly closed.The CQC also found routine operations were frequently cancelled and maternity services regularly closed.
It said high levels of nitrous oxide, used as pain relief in childbirth, were detected at Rosie Hospital's birthing centre, but the only action taken to address it was to open windows.It said high levels of nitrous oxide, used as pain relief in childbirth, were detected at Rosie Hospital's birthing centre, but the only action taken to address it was to open windows.
Stephen Hay, Monitor's managing director of provider regulation, said: "Patients treated at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust deserve to receive the highest possible care, and so the failings that we and the CQC have identified in the trust's services are disappointing.Stephen Hay, Monitor's managing director of provider regulation, said: "Patients treated at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust deserve to receive the highest possible care, and so the failings that we and the CQC have identified in the trust's services are disappointing.
"It's reassuring that the trust has already started to address some of the issues, but much more needs to be done."It's reassuring that the trust has already started to address some of the issues, but much more needs to be done.
"Special measures will ensure it gets the extra help and support it needs.""Special measures will ensure it gets the extra help and support it needs."
Have you been treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital? Have you found the services inadequate? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Have you been treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital? Have you found the services inadequate? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
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