01.06.18
Hull NHS trust ‘requires improvement’ after CQC inspection
CQC inspectors have rated one of the largest trusts in England as ‘requires improvement’ today, citing inconsistencies in follow-up appointments and the storing of patient’s records as cause for concern in the trust.
The inspection of Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust — which runs the Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI) and Castle Hill Hospital — also found that improvements needed to be made in areas such as patient risk assessments and adhering to the “five steps to safer surgery” scheme.
Castle Hill was rated as ‘good’, but both the overall trust — which provides acute care for a local population of 600,000 — and HRI were deemed to ‘require improvement.’
The trust was rated good for effective, caring and well-led services but safety and responsiveness retained the rating of requiring improvement, pulling the trust back to an overall rating of requiring improvement.
Of the services inspected, the CQC rated 26 of the 33 areas at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital good.
Chief executive Chris Long said the trust missed out on a ‘good’ rating “by a whisker” but praised the organisation for the transformation of a trust whose former boss and chief nurse were facing fraud charges earlier this month.
“We have to acknowledge how far we have come and take the time to thank our 8,900 staff for their efforts, unending dedication and commitment to the NHS.
“Not only has the CQC noted significant improvements in culture as well as performance, staff morale and patient care across the organisation, we are now a well-led trust which places patients at the heart of everything we do,” he added.
CQC chief inspector of hospitals Ted Baker said the officials saw “significant improvement” in the culture of the trust, adding that staff felt supported, respected, and valued.
"However, we identified areas where the trust will need to bring about improvement including; completing patient risk assessments and consistently utilising the five steps to safer surgery process within all services,” said Baker.
10 out of 22 trusts in the region, including Bradford and York, now ‘require improvement.’
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Image credit: Anna Gowthorpe, PA Images