The privately run Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust it the first to be found to have inadequate caring by the industry regulator.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recommended the hospital is placed in special measures following an inspection.
Professor Sir Mike Richards, England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, made the recommendations after the trust received an ‘inadequate’ rating during CQC inspections.
The privately run Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust it the first to be found to have inadequate caring by the industry regulator.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recommended the hospital is placed in special measures following an inspection.
Professor Sir Mike Richards, England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, made the recommendations after the trust received an ‘inadequate’ rating during CQC inspections.
Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust, operated by Circle, was the first NHS hospital to be privately run. The news of its CQC rating comes only days after owner, Circle made clear its intention to withdraw from their contract.
The trust was judged ‘inadequate’ with regard to whether services were safe, caring and well-led. It was also rated as ‘requires improvement’ with regards to whether services were effective and responsive.
Richards, said: “We have given the trust an overall rating of ‘Inadequate’ and I have made a recommendation to the Trust Development Authority (TDA) that the trust is placed into special measures. We have informed the TDA of the breaches and it will make sure these are appropriately addressed and that progress is monitored through the special measures action plan.
“Our inspection at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust highlighted a number of serious concerns, surrounding staffing and risks to patient safety particularly in the A&E department and medical care. There were substantial and frequent staff shortages in the A&E department. There were a number of other areas of concern, some of which related to the way in which the trust is led and run. This is the first time that CQC has rated a trust inadequate for ‘caring’.”