14.08.13
Patient safety at risk at Whipps Cross – CQC
Whipps Cross University Hospital has been issued three formal warnings over failings in care, with poor levels of safety and staffing uncovered by the CQC.
The hospital failed to meet 10 of 16 standards and must make urgent improvements. Unhygienic conditions, with some equipment unsterilised and not enough hand washing, increases the risk of infection.
Barts Health Trust, which runs the hospital, has been issued warnings to improve cleanliness and infection control; safety, availability and suitability of equipment; and support to staff.
Inspections in May and June found dirty wards, with stains and dust over the curtains, walls and equipment. Staff were reported to be sarcastic and uncaring, and shortages on the elderly care ward led to some patients left unsupported to eat their meals, with water and food placed out of reach.
Bed shortages meant patients were moved around in the middle of care and the hospital had a higher post-surgery mortality rate than average. Whipps Cross had been missing A&E waiting times targets for six months before the inspection.
The report said: “We saw examples of poor care, unacceptable staff behaviour and poor infection control in maternity services. In surgery, theatre processes and communication arrangements put people's safety at risk. Surgery and maternity were both too busy, did not have enough staff to look after people's needs, and lacked bed capacity, which meant they were not as effective as they should be and not always responsive to people's needs.”
The Department of Health said: “It is unacceptable that Whipps Cross hospital is failing to meet fundamental care standards. It is right that the regulator has exposed these problems, and that this hospital takes urgent steps to improve.”
Barts Health Trust said it was already introducing “robust action plans” to deal with the failings.
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