Hospice management branded ‘inadequate’

INSPECTORS SPEAK OF A ‘BULLYING’ CULTURE AND SAFETY FEARS

A SOUTH Tyneside hospice with a “culture of bullying” has been branded inadequate by a health watchdog after inspectors found “significant safety concerns”.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out an inspection at St Clare’s Hospice on Primrose Terrace, Jarrow, on September 12 and 13. Seven patients were moved as the hospice closed its doors due to fears over clinical leadership and governance.

Now, a full CQC report has been published laying bare inspectors’ “significant safety concerns” at the provider.

The damning report read: “We saw significant safety concerns in areas such as medicines management, risk identification and incident investigation and subsequent learning.

“Safety is not [sic] sufficient priority and we saw patient harm had occurred as a result of this.”

Inspectors found “insufficient attention” was paid to safeguarding, with staff displaying little understanding and not supported with mandatory training.

Patient records and assessments were also found to be incomplete while routine assessments were not always carried out – including for patients deemed high risk.

Inspectors wrote “opportunities to prevent or minimise harm were missed” as a result.

Managers were described as having “little appetite” for driving improvement, with staff described as regularly working in isolation rather than as part of a structured team approach.

Two members of staff spoke of a “culture of bullying” at the hospice and “instances of conflict between individuals”.

St Clare’s Hospice – which has remained closed since the inspection – was graded inadequate in all categories except for the “caring” nature of services which was labelled “good”.

The report read: “Staff cared for patients with compassion. Most of the feedback from patients and their relatives confirmed staff treated them well and with kindness.

“The service had received many thank you cards which showed patients and relatives felt staff treated them with compassion and care.”

St Clare’s Hospice, which also closed earlier in the year for medical staff shortages, is due to reopen in the New Year.

Tracey Woodall, the recently appointed chair at the hospice, insists a “zero tolerance” approach to bullying and harassment has been introduced.

She added: “With a new senior management team, we’re working really hard to make sure we get back on track.

“We’re working really closely with the CQC and the CCG to make sure these problems are addressed and we come back much stronger.

“We’ve made significant changes. All of the training that was lacking has been provided.”