This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8382036.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Dirty hospital sparks reform call | Dirty hospital sparks reform call |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The way hospitals are regulated should be urgently reformed after a report found a catalogue of failings at two hospitals in Essex, a charity has said. | The way hospitals are regulated should be urgently reformed after a report found a catalogue of failings at two hospitals in Essex, a charity has said. |
| The Patients Association said people had been "appallingly" let down. | The Patients Association said people had been "appallingly" let down. |
| The independent regulator highlighted an unusually high death rate and poor hygiene, including blood-spattered kit. | The independent regulator highlighted an unusually high death rate and poor hygiene, including blood-spattered kit. |
| Basildon and Thurrock NHS trust said concerns were not indicative of wider problems, but a taskforce has been sent in to force through improvements. | Basildon and Thurrock NHS trust said concerns were not indicative of wider problems, but a taskforce has been sent in to force through improvements. |
| On Friday morning the regulator announced that it was also taking action at a second Essex trust. | On Friday morning the regulator announced that it was also taking action at a second Essex trust. |
| It has removed Richard Bourne, chairman of the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, for failing to improve standards. | |
| Commenting on the Basildon case, the Patients Association said the failings were not isolated cases and patients had suffered a lack of monitoring, lack of help with feeding and a lack of dignity. | Commenting on the Basildon case, the Patients Association said the failings were not isolated cases and patients had suffered a lack of monitoring, lack of help with feeding and a lack of dignity. |
| 'Not complacent' | 'Not complacent' |
| Director Katherine Murphy said: "How many times do the public need to keep hearing about this before the government is embarrassed enough to do something about it? | Director Katherine Murphy said: "How many times do the public need to keep hearing about this before the government is embarrassed enough to do something about it? |
| "The evidence was there but not acted on. That is completely unacceptable. The system of regulation and supervision needs to be urgently reformed." | "The evidence was there but not acted on. That is completely unacceptable. The system of regulation and supervision needs to be urgently reformed." |
| The trust, which has two hospitals serving about 300,000 people, said it was "not complacent". | The trust, which has two hospitals serving about 300,000 people, said it was "not complacent". |
| Our work has uncovered serious failings Cynthia BowerCare Quality Commission Patient: I took months to recover Can the data be trusted? Colchester trust chief sacked | Our work has uncovered serious failings Cynthia BowerCare Quality Commission Patient: I took months to recover Can the data be trusted? Colchester trust chief sacked |
| Most inpatient care is provided at Basildon University Hospital, which has 777 beds, and outpatient care at Orsett hospital in Grays. | Most inpatient care is provided at Basildon University Hospital, which has 777 beds, and outpatient care at Orsett hospital in Grays. |
| Trust chairman Michael Large said: "It is an extremely serious matter and we do not seek to underestimate its gravity. | Trust chairman Michael Large said: "It is an extremely serious matter and we do not seek to underestimate its gravity. |
| "I want to reassure our local community that the safety and well-being of our patients is our highest priority." | "I want to reassure our local community that the safety and well-being of our patients is our highest priority." |
| The trust said more nurses have now been taken on, and a new emergency department is planned. | The trust said more nurses have now been taken on, and a new emergency department is planned. |
| 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 inspectors criticised a poor care environment in A&E, in particular a lack of privacy for patients. | The inspectors criticised a poor care environment in A&E, in particular a lack of privacy for patients. |
| They also highlighted inadequate arrangements to treat children, with few specialist paediatric staff. | They also highlighted inadequate arrangements to treat children, with few specialist paediatric staff. |
| Mother on son's NHS treatment | Mother on son's NHS treatment |
| 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. |
| An expert taskforce will be sent into the trust with a remit to drive rapid improvements in patient care. | An expert taskforce will be sent into the trust with a remit to drive rapid improvements in patient care. |
| Monitor chairman Dr William Moyes said: "We will be reviewing the trust's performance regularly and in detail - if we don't see measurable results quickly, we'll take further action." | Monitor chairman Dr William Moyes said: "We will be reviewing the trust's performance regularly and in detail - if we don't see measurable results quickly, we'll take further action." |
| 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. | 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. |
| Death rates | Death rates |
| 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. |
| However, senior doctors at the hospital say they have investigated death rates, and do not believe there is a serious problem. | However, senior doctors at the hospital say they have investigated death rates, and do not believe there is a serious problem. |
| Cynthia Bower, CQC chief executive, said swift action was needed to "nip problems in the bud". | Cynthia Bower, CQC chief executive, said swift action was needed to "nip problems in the bud". |
| She said: "Our work has uncovered serious failings. The trust has high mortality rates for emergency admissions and we have found evidence of significant problems in different parts of the organisation. | She said: "Our work has uncovered serious failings. The trust has high mortality rates for emergency admissions and we have found evidence of significant problems in different parts of the organisation. |
| "The trust has taken our concerns seriously but improvements are simply not happening fast enough. | "The trust has taken our concerns seriously but improvements are simply not happening fast enough. |
| "Our confidence in the management's ability to deliver on commitments and to turn the situation around has been severely dented." | "Our confidence in the management's ability to deliver on commitments and to turn the situation around has been severely dented." |
| Baroness Young, CQC chair, admitted the current inspection system - which the commission inherited from its predecessor - was flawed, and said reforms would soon be in place. | Baroness Young, CQC chair, admitted the current inspection system - which the commission inherited from its predecessor - was flawed, and said reforms would soon be in place. |
| Political reaction | Political reaction |
| Health Minister Mike O'Brien said: "Patient safety must be a top priority for the NHS and all patients deserve the highest quality of care." | Health Minister Mike O'Brien said: "Patient safety must be a top priority for the NHS and all patients deserve the highest quality of care." |
| "We expect these issues to be dealt with quickly and effectively to ensure high quality, safe care for patients." | "We expect these issues to be dealt with quickly and effectively to ensure high quality, safe care for patients." |
| Mattresses were badly soiled | Mattresses were badly soiled |
| 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. | 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." | "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." |
| Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. You can also comment about hospital regulation class="inlineText" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7281&edition=2">on our debate. | |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |