Leicester's Hospitals 'require improvement' following inspection

The Trust which runs Leicester's hospitals has been told it must make improvements following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust was rated as "requires improvement" following a series of inspections in June 2016.

Urgent & Emergency Services, Medical Care, Surgery, Critical Care, Maternity and Gynaecology, Children & Young People, End of Life Care, Outpatients and Diagnostic Imaging were each rated in five different areas.

Inspectors said the trust was "good" for caring overall in all departments but it need to improve safety, effectiveness, responsiveness and leadership in some areas.

The trust keeps the same rating as it had in April 2014 following a previous inspection, but inspectors said improvements had been made since then.

Some areas were praised for their outstanding work including an activities facilitator who had dinner with a patient refusing to eat on one ward.

The staff member told inspectors that by making the meal a social event they hoped the patient would eat.

Oncology was also praised for providing a 24-hour helpline for patients.

The report said “Although the overall rating we gave the trust in this inspection was the same as they were awarded in their 2014 inspection, we did find improvements had been made. These were particularly evident in staff engagement and confidence in the leadership team.”

The Trust will be required to explain to the CQC how it intends to improve and will submit these plans by 16th February.

There will be follow up inspections to ensure improvements are made.