Hinckley Times

Our nearest A&E told to improve urgently

- CLAIRE HARRISON hinckleyti­mes@rtrinitymi­rror.com

AN accident and emergency department has been ordered to make immediate safety improvemen­ts.

A snap inspection was held at the emergency department at George Eliot Hospital, in Nuneaton, in the run-up to Christmas.

As as a result, Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors issued a Section 29a notice, ordering the hospital to make changes to improve safety.

These notices can be served when the CQC identifies concerns across either the whole or part of an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust and when it feels there is a need for significan­t improvemen­ts in the quality of healthcare.

The hospital has said the visit came at a point of “high pressure” in the urgent care system. The problems are believed to be linked to the number of locum or agency staff used.

In his report to the trust board, Glen Burley, the hospital’s chief executive officer, said: “Prior to Christmas at a point of high pressure in the urgent care system, the CQC carried out an unannounce­d inspection of

A&E.

“As a result of the inspection, the CQC issued a Section 29a notice. This notice instructs the trust to make some changes to improve safety.

“The changes will be included in our response and will go a long way to alleviate the pressure.

“In addition, we have been encouraged to consider again how we improve substantiv­e medical staffing in the department.”

In a statement, David Eltringham, the hospital’s managing director, said: “We are responding to the CQC around a Section 29a notice.

“We have taken its feedback seriously and are acting urgently to improve the aspects of the care highlighte­d by the CQC and to continue to ensure our patients are safe and well cared for.

“We are taking steps to increase the number of substantiv­e medical staff.

“Our Emergency Department is on a journey of improvemen­t as we expand our same-day emergency care unit in January and look at options to provide extra capacity.

“Our dedicated staff work extremely hard to keep our patients safe in the face of huge demand and we will be working together with them as we continue this journey.”

In January 2018, the CQC rated the George Eliot Hospital overall as requires improvemen­t, with concerns about urgent and emergency care and end-of-life services.

 ?? GOOGLE ?? RESPONSE: Emergency services at George Eliot Hospital
GOOGLE RESPONSE: Emergency services at George Eliot Hospital

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