16.02.12
Trust failings risk patient care – CQC
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which manages Eastbourne and Hastings hospitals, has been warned that its failings could be putting patients at risk following inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Although some improvements have been made since the CQC’s previous report, concerns remained about the way the trust monitors and assesses standards of treatment.
Issues highlighted include ‘do not attempt resuscitation’ decisions for patients with reduced mental capacity, recruitment of some grades of doctors and consultants. Additionally care plans were incomplete in some areas.
The trust has been given until March 31 to comply with the regulations relating to the assessment and monitoring of the quality of the services it provides.
In a statement the CQC said: “The warning follows a series of inspections at the trust, in February, April and September 2011, which have highlighted a number of failings which are putting patients at risk of harm.”
Darren Grayson, from Eastbourne andHastingstrust, said: “We are committed to improving the quality of care and outcomes for patients and aim to get every aspect of care right for all our patients all of the time.
“These reports demonstrate the improvements we had made five months ago. We have made considerable progress since then and we continue to make improvements across the trust to address all the areas the CQC has highlighted for improvement.”
Ian Biggs, from the CQC, said: “This warning sends a clear message that East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust needs to address these issues or face serious consequences.”
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