04.01.17
CQC rates former special measures Lancashire trust as ‘good’
An NHS trust in Lancashire that had previously been put into special measures has improved to the extent of being rated as ‘good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following a recent inspection.
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust had been put into special measures in July 2013 following Sir Bruce Keogh’s review of hospitals with higher than average mortality rates, before making sufficient progress to have this lifted in May 2014.
After a further inspection in 2015 rated the trust’s two main hospitals, Royal Blackburn and Burnley General, as good, the CQC has said that the results of the most recent inspection are testament to the progress of the trust as a whole in recent years.
The CQC’s chief inspector of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, said: “This latest report represents further progress by East Lancashire Hospitals, who should be congratulated on all their hard work.
“From a position of special measures in 2013 to an overall rating of Good has clearly been a story of steady and sustained improvement by all concerned.”
The CQC praised the trust’s vision to be recognised for providing “safe, personal and effective care”, finding improvements across a number of areas such as the trust’s strategy for reporting and reviewing incidents, and innovations in its urgent and emergency services.
The trust was also found to have improved nurse staffing in its accident and emergency, medical and surgical departments and, while there was still a reliance on agency staff, the trust had recruited more nurses who were waiting to start work.
However, the CQC’s report noted that the trust “does still face some challenges” such as its A&E department meeting its four-hour waiting target and the recruitment of doctors in some specialities.
“We shall continue to monitor the work being done to address these issues and return in due course. However I am optimistic that this improvement can be sustained and I look forward to reporting further progress,” Prof Sir Mike Richards added.
Chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust Kevin McGee expressed his delight at the CQC’s rating, saying that it was a “reflection of the hard work” that staff had put in since the trust was put into special measures.
“Our next goal is to improve even further, ensuring those areas still requiring improvement are tackled, and work towards receiving an outstanding rating in the future,” he said.
In its recommendations for the trust to build on its improvements, the CQC advised the trust to ensure that nurse staffing levels did not fall below recommended levels, and that it must review its risk management approach.
The CQC also called on the trust to reduce the time taken to investigate and close complaints, and ensure patients were notified within sufficient time of patient safety incidents.
(Image: c. Liz Dawson)
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