15.07.14
Clear strategy not in place over Mid-Staffs service transfer – CQC
A clear transition plan for overseeing the move of services from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (MSFT) to other providers must be developed, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has stated.
Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stafford hospital, is to be dissolved and its services taken over by neighbouring trusts later this year.
Following an inspection, which took place between 30 June and 2 July, CQC inspectors concluded that services were safe, but staffing levels were only just adequate in some areas, particularly on medical wards.
In a letter to Monitor, the Trust Development Authority and the Trust Special Administrator who are dealing with the transition arrangements, Professor Sir Mike Richards, chief inspectors of hospitals, said: “We were both surprised and very concerned that a clear transition plan has yet to be developed to ensure the safe transition of responsibility for clinical services to the agreed model of care over the next four months. This clearly requires the full involvement of MSFT and other organisations in the wider health economy.
“In addition, the workforce at MSFT needs clarity as soon as possible about what is going to happen next. The current uncertainty is contributing to the fatigue and fragility amongst staff.
“The transition plan should therefore include a commitment by the acquiring organisations to support medical and nursing staff levels at Mid Staffs over the next four months so that services remain safe.”
Welcoming Sir Mike's comments, the hospital's bosses said they were working to “finalise detailed planning” ahead of a long-planned transfer of services to neighbouring health trusts in November
They stated: “In light of this report, the local health economy will be working together to finalise the detailed planning and begin the transfer of services as planned.”
The CQC’s full report on the inspection will be published next month.
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