The first four reports from the Care Quality Commission’s (CQCs) new hospital inspections have been released, showing generally positive results.
The inspections, under the leadership of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) chief inspector of hospitals, Sir Mike Richards, concluded that all hospitals had areas for improvement.
The first four reports from the Care Quality Commission’s (CQCs) new hospital inspections have been released, showing generally positive results.
The inspections, under the leadership of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) chief inspector of hospitals, Sir Mike Richards, concluded that all hospitals had areas for improvement.
Although Croydon Health Services NHS Trust is “working hard to change its culture”, areas of the hospital still need significant improvement. Inspectors were concerned about low staffing levels in wards for older people. And delivery of care was made difficult by the poor environment in A&E, the inspectors said.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust also has low staffing levels. There was a shortage of midwives, and concerns over staffing in surgical care and wards for older people.
Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust generally provides safe and effective care, but the hospital is dealing with a high number of patients, meaning the effectiveness of treatment is affected at busy times.
Overall, 136 people were involved in the four inspections. Of these 18 were doctors, including junior doctors; 17 were nurses, including trainee nurses; and 15 were trained members of the public with experience of hospital services.
Professor Sir Mike Richards said: “By using larger teams including more experts and people who have used hospital services, we have really been able to get under the skin of these trusts.
“Our aim was to answer five key questions about each service: are they safe, caring, effective, well-led and responsive to people’s needs? I believe the reports answer these questions and give people a much richer picture of the care provided in their local hospitals than has ever before been available – and they highlight the good as well as the areas where my inspection teams found improvements are needed.”
