'Inadequate' Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust to be placed in special measures

One the country's largest NHS trusts is to be placed in special measures after inspectors raised serious concerns and rated it "inadequate".

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the world-renowned Addenbrooke's Hospital, was told it must make a number of improvements to ensure safe and effective care.

Inspectors found that the trust, which has more than 1,000 beds, had staff shortages in a number of areas, including critical care services.

This has resulted in staff being moved around and working in areas they were unfamiliar with, putting patient safety at risk.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) also unearthed problems in maternity, including high levels of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, being detected in the Rosie Birth Centre. Experts have linked high levels to feelings of dizziness, while other risks include unconsciousness or death if there is a lack of oxygen.

The report found routine operations were frequently cancelled and patients were waiting longer for operations. Credit: PA

Professor Sir Mike Richards, the CQC's chief inspector of hospitals, said: "We found a number of serious problems when we inspected the services run by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and I have made a recommendation to Monitor that the trust should be placed into special measures.

"We were concerned that in some services, staff were caring for people in areas unfamiliar to them, meaning patient safety and welfare was placed at risk.

"However, staff were hard working, passionate and caring throughout the trust, prepared to go the extra mile for patients, but having to swim upstream against the pressures they faced."

The trust is already under scrutiny by government regulator Monitor over its financial dealings. It is running a deficit of £1.2 million per week and is predicted to overrun by at least £64 million this year.

Chief executive Keith McNeil resigned last week and Addenbrooke's chief finance officer Paul James also quit ahead of the CQC report.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, the CQC's chief inspector of hospitals. Credit: PA

Trust chairwoman Jane Ramsey apologised for the failings uncovered by the CQC and said it took being placed in special measures "very seriously".

"We will take rapid action to address these concerns and maintain our record of safety and high-quality care," she said.

Among the other concerns highlighted by the CQC report were:

  • Pressure on surgical services meant routine operations were frequently cancelled and patients were waiting longer for operations.

  • Equipment in the maternity unit was old.

  • Some patients were experiencing long delays in getting outpatient appointments. The longest wait for a first appointment for ophthalmology was 51 weeks.

  • There was a disconnect between what was happening on the front line and the senior management team.

  • Staff satisfaction was poor and plans to support staff and improve the culture were not robust.

  • Many patients were waiting for follow-ups.

Steps have already been taken to address a number of the concerns, including staff shortages, and interim chief executive David Wherrett said patients would be "in safe hands, receive outstanding care from compassionate staff and be treated by leading clinicians".

"Against a backdrop of increased demand and tighter resources, our services continue to be recognised nationally and internationally for their safety and patient outcomes," he said.

"Patients are less likely to die here, be harmed, or catch a hospital-acquired infection than at almost any other trust in the country."

The CQC also put another trust, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, in special measures.

Inspectors rated the trust as inadequate and pointed to a range of issues, including low staffing levels in surgery, maternity and pharmacy services.