Warning after inspectors find 'no tangible improvements' at Worcestershire hospitals trust
The country’s top health inspector has ordered Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust to make “urgent” changes after finding “no tangible improvements” - despite repeated warnings.
The trust, which runs Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre, is rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
It has also been subject to an official Warning Notice issued in January, which expires at the end of the year, demanding significant progress.
But in a report released on Tuesday, inspectors revealed little evidence of improvement could be seen at the time of their visits in April.
They found:
Staff caring for patients in corridors in A&E had become “standard practice”
A&E waiting times remain consistently higher than the national average
Risk assessment records in medical care wards at Worcestershire Royal Hospital were not routinely completed, including those for elderly patients
The only area rated ‘good’ by inspectors was the caring nature of staff, who were praised for being “hard-working, passionate and caring”.
However, they said, many were left frustrated by poor communication with senior management, which meant they felt unable to directly make any improvements.
Prof Ted Baker, the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said he was “concerned” that the trust had not taken sufficient action to address concerns raised in the past.
He said further inspections would be carried out in the near future to monitor the situation.
Speaking to ITV News Central, Trust chief executive Michelle McKay - who was appointed to her post just two weeks before the inspections were carried out - said she was determined to make improvements.
In a written statement issued separately, she apologised to patients, families and carers who had been "let down" by the trust's ongoing issues.
The recommendations from the CQC include:
The board must be allowed full oversight of potential risks to patients, including the recognition, assessment, monitoring and mitigation of risk.
Patients in A&E must be given their medication at the correct times.
All patients’ conditions must be monitored effectively to enable any deterioration to be quickly identified and treated.
The privacy and dignity of all patients in A&E must be supported at all times, including when care is provided in corridor areas.
Identifiable patient information must be stored securely and not kept on display.
All patients in the children and young people’s service with mental health needs must have the appropriate level of staff care.
Any missed medication must be reported appropriately to the medical team, including when patients refuse to take prescribed medication.