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| Sacking at second failing trust | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Urgent action is being taken to raise standards at a second NHS foundation trust after serious failings were uncovered. | Urgent action is being taken to raise standards at a second NHS foundation trust after serious failings were uncovered. |
| The regulator, Monitor, has sacked the chairman of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust. | The regulator, Monitor, has sacked the chairman of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust. |
| Monitor said the trust had consistently failed to improve waiting times and death rates were too high. | Monitor said the trust had consistently failed to improve waiting times and death rates were too high. |
| On Thursday, a catalogue of failings was reported at nearby Basildon and Thurrock NHS trust. | On Thursday, a catalogue of failings was reported at nearby Basildon and Thurrock NHS trust. |
| Both trusts have coveted foundation status, supposedly a marker of first-rate performance which gives greater freedom over how to manage finances. | Both trusts have coveted foundation status, supposedly a marker of first-rate performance which gives greater freedom over how to manage finances. |
| The system of regulation and supervision needs to be urgently reformed Katherine MurphyPatients Association Kit 'blood spattered' Colchester trust chief sacked Can the data be trusted? | The system of regulation and supervision needs to be urgently reformed Katherine MurphyPatients Association Kit 'blood spattered' Colchester trust chief sacked Can the data be trusted? |
| The Patients Association has called for urgent reform of the way hospitals are regulated, saying patients had been "appallingly" let down. | The Patients Association has called for urgent reform of the way hospitals are regulated, saying patients had been "appallingly" let down. |
| Monitor chairman Dr William Moyes said: "I am very disappointed in some of the failings in care that have been uncovered in the last few weeks. | |
| "But that is not to say that every aspect of every service in every hospital is poor - it isn't." | |
| Dr Moyes said that out of 125 foundation trusts, no more than a "handful" were being closely scrutinised for possible poor performance. | |
| Monitor announced on Friday that Richard Borne had been relieved of his post at the Colchester trust. | Monitor announced on Friday that Richard Borne had been relieved of his post at the Colchester trust. |
| It said the trust, which had been under review for nine months, had failed to meet waiting targets for A&E and cancer care. | It said the trust, which had been under review for nine months, had failed to meet waiting targets for A&E and cancer care. |
| Death rates among patients were also 12% higher than expected. | Death rates among patients were also 12% higher than expected. |
| Basildon inspection | Basildon inspection |
| The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the regulator highlighted major lapses in hygiene and unusually high death rates at the Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust. | The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the regulator highlighted major lapses in hygiene and unusually high death rates at the Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust. |
| A taskforce has been sent in to force through improvements. | A taskforce has been sent in to force through improvements. |
| Baroness Young, chair of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which is responsible for monitoring NHS standards, admitted that the current inspection system - which the commission inherited from its predecessor - was flawed. | Baroness Young, chair of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which is responsible for monitoring NHS standards, admitted that the current inspection system - which the commission inherited from its predecessor - was flawed. |
| She said reforms would soon be in place. | She said reforms would soon be in place. |
| The CQC rated the Basildon 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. | The CQC rated the Basildon 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. |
| 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. |
| More nurses | More nurses |
| 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 Basildon trust said it had taken action to improve standards, such as employing more nurses and drawing up plans for a new casualty department. | The Basildon trust said it had taken action to improve standards, such as employing more nurses and drawing up plans for a new casualty department. |
| Senior doctors at the trust also argued that death rates are not a serious problem. | Senior doctors at the trust also argued that death rates are not a serious problem. |
| Katherine Murphy, director of the Patients Association, said: "How many times do the public need to keep hearing about this before the government is embarrassed enough to do something about it? | Katherine Murphy, director of the Patients Association, 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 system of regulation and supervision needs to be urgently reformed." | "The system of regulation and supervision needs to be urgently reformed." |
| Public sector union Unison called for the Basildon trust to be taken back under NHS control, and for a public enquiry into patient care at the hospital. | Public sector union Unison called for the Basildon trust to be taken back under NHS control, and for a public enquiry into patient care at the hospital. |
| Karen Jennings, the union's health specialist, said: "These reports are a tragedy for patients, their families, and for staff working at the hospital." | Karen Jennings, the union's health specialist, said: "These reports are a tragedy for patients, their families, and for staff working at the hospital." |
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