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| Hospital kit 'blood splattered' | Hospital kit 'blood splattered' |
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| Serious concerns have been raised about standards of care at an NHS hospital trust in Essex, the BBC believes. | Serious concerns have been raised about standards of care at an NHS hospital trust in Essex, the BBC believes. |
| It is believed the concerns raised by the independent regulator include a higher than expected death rate among patients and poor standards of hygiene. | It is believed the concerns raised by the independent regulator include a higher than expected death rate among patients and poor standards of hygiene. |
| Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has two hospitals which provide care for around 300,000 people in south west Essex. | Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has two hospitals which provide care for around 300,000 people in south west Essex. |
| The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the trust as "good" overall in October. | The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the trust as "good" overall in October. |
| But a new report from an unannounced inspection team carried out by the CQC found evidence of sub-standard care. | But a new report from an unannounced inspection team carried out by the CQC found evidence of sub-standard care. |
| The inspectors saw: | The inspectors saw: |
| • Floors and curtains stained with blood | • Floors and curtains stained with blood |
| • Blood splattered on trays used to carry equipment | • Blood splattered on trays used to carry equipment |
| • Badly soiled mattresses in the A&E department with stains soaked through to the foam filling | • Badly soiled mattresses in the A&E department with stains soaked through to the foam filling |
| • Items that should only be used once still in use | • Items that should only be used once still in use |
| • Equipment in the resuscitation room that was past the use-by date | • Equipment in the resuscitation room that was past the use-by date |
| • A children's blood pressure cuff heavily stained with blood | • A children's blood pressure cuff heavily stained with blood |
| • Suction machines contaminated with fluid inside and out with what looked like mould growing on the equipment | • Suction machines contaminated with fluid inside and out with what looked like mould growing on the equipment |
| The CQC has asked the regulator of foundation trusts, Monitor, to take action. | The CQC has asked the regulator of foundation trusts, Monitor, to take action. |
| Most of the inpatient care at the trust is provided at Basildon University Hospital, which has 777 beds. | Most of the inpatient care at the trust is provided at Basildon University Hospital, which has 777 beds. |
| Outpatient care is provided at Orsett hospital. | Outpatient care is provided at Orsett hospital. |
| The trust was one of the first in England to be granted foundation trust status in 2004. | The trust was one of the first in England to be granted foundation trust status in 2004. |
| That gives the trust greater freedom to manage its finances. | That gives the trust greater freedom to manage its finances. |
| The independent hospital analysis website Dr Foster has found the Essex trust to have a hospital standardised mortality ratio of 136. | The independent hospital analysis website Dr Foster has found the Essex trust to have a hospital standardised mortality ratio of 136. |
| This means the rate of death among patients at the trust is a third higher than would be expected by looking at national figures, after adjusting for patients' age and the severity of their illness. | This means the rate of death among patients at the trust is a third higher than would be expected by looking at national figures, after adjusting for patients' age and the severity of their illness. |
| This is likely to prompt comparisons with Stafford Hospital where similar concerns were raised about a higher than expected mortality rate. | This is likely to prompt comparisons with Stafford Hospital where similar concerns were raised about a higher than expected mortality rate. |
| After internal investigations at Stafford failed to find a problem, an independent inspection found serious failings in emergency care. | After internal investigations at Stafford failed to find a problem, an independent inspection found serious failings in emergency care. |
| Andrew Lansley, shadow health secretary, said: "I am extremely disturbed by this news and the effect that these shocking conditions may have had on patients. | |
| "When the appalling standards of care at Stafford Hospital were revealed we were assured by Labour Ministers that it was "an isolated case" - that sort of complacency is simply not good enough." | |
| Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrats health spokesman, said: "If these reports are accurate then it appears there has been a shocking failure in the standards of care at this hospital. | Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrats health spokesman, said: "If these reports are accurate then it appears there has been a shocking failure in the standards of care at this hospital. |
| "People have a right to know how on earth a hospital can be rated 'good' a few weeks before such serious failings come to light." | "People have a right to know how on earth a hospital can be rated 'good' a few weeks before such serious failings come to light." |
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