Hospitals told by CQC they need to improve
LEICESTER’S Hospitals have been told they need to improve services in the latest report by the health regulator . THE warning comes from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), whose inspectors visited the city’s three main hospitals, and other health services, between November and January.
England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals has rated the services provided by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust as “requires improvement overall”.
Its team of inspectors assessed urgent and emergency care at Leicester Royal Infirmary; medical care at the Infirmary and Glenfield Hospital; diagnostic imaging services and maternity and outpatients at both the Infirmary and General Hospital, and maternity services at St Mary’s Birthing Centre.
They also looked specifically at management and leadership to determine whether the trust is “well led”.
Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Ted Baker, said: “Although some improvements had been noted since our previous inspection, there were still many service areas where the rating remained the same.”
The trust was rated as “good” for being “effective and caring” but was told it also requires improvement for being “safe, responsive and well-led”.
Following the inspection, the CQC served a warning notice as inspectors found evidence to suggest the quality of health care in relation to management of insulin for diabetic patients required “significant improvement”, with some people unable to access services when they needed to.
They also found that action to address “long waiting times, delays or cancellations” had not been effective.
Prof Baker said: “We identi- fied key risks in some core service which local leaders were not aware of, and governance structures and systems were not always operating effectively in some core services.
“There had been a lack of oversight in some areas, including the management of patients receiving insulin, and nurse and medical staffing remained a concern in some services.”
He said there was also an “over-reliance on bank and agency staff” with some wards still understaffed.
The trust, however, was praised in a number of areas.
Prof Baker said: “Inspectors also observed many areas where good and outstanding practice was being carried out. Staff cared for patients with compassion and feedback from patients confirmed that staff treated them with kindness and provided emotional support to minimise their distress.
“We were impressed with maternity services at the Royal Infirmary, General Hospital and St Mary’s Birth Centre, and in particular the level of care offered to women who used St Mary’s Birth Centre where specialist midwives tailored care around individual needs.”
He added: “The urgent and emergency care department had also established one of the first dedicated Emergency Department Sepsis Teams in the UK.
“The sepsis team were clearly visible throughout our inspection and were available 24 hours a day.
“And since the launch of this team, the number of patients recognised at possible risk of sepsis had doubled from 50 to 100 per week.
“Treatment of high risk patients with antibiotics within one hour of arrival had also significantly improved.”
John Adler, chief executive of the trust said the findings were encouraging, while accepting the criticism.
He said: “None of our services are now rated as inadequate, and I am particularly pleased to see the very significant improvement in our urgent and emergency services despite continued pressure.”
Chief Executive John Adler added: “It is regrettable that following their inspection the CQC served us with a warning notice because the care we give diabetic patients in relation to the management of their insulin requires significant improvement.”
“We recognise this too and since the inspection we have accelerated our programme of work to ensure immediate improvements and safety of our patients.”
Prof Baker, of the CQC, added: “The trust leadership knows what it needs to do to bring about improvement in the areas identified and our inspectors will return at a later date to check on what progress has been made.”