Concerns regarding the care of patients
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) told University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust last summer that its care service provision required improvement and the CQC Chief Inspector Ted Baker has since called on the trust, which runs the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford’s County Hospital, to make significant changes so that patients receive the standard of care that should be expected.
He raised significant concerns regarding the care of patients in the Royal Stoke A&E unit, and stated that at busy periods inspectors were “not assured that there were enough staff available to manage patients safely in the corridor”.
Inspection finds room for improvement
His report made several recommendations for improvement in the hospital’s emergency services. This included making efforts to ensure that each patient’s privacy must be maintained at all times. The report said: “All reasonable efforts should be made to make sure that discussions about care treatment and support only take place where they cannot be overheard.”
Another recommendation was that the trust needed to ensure that “navigating patients in the department is done by a suitably trained and qualified member of staff.” Other recommendations have required the trust to ensure that all staff have the appropriate training to carry out their roles safely and effectively and to make sure that the appropriate number of staff are deployed to meet the care needs of their patients.
Ally Taft, a partner with Medical Accident Group, said: “The Care Quality Commission’s report on the emergency department of the Royal Stoke Hospital is concerning and the trust needs to ensure that the recommendations listed in the report are acted upon. It is important that action is taken promptly to improve the standard of emergency care provided to patients.”
If you or a family member have suffered an injury as a result of emergency care you received, Medical Accident Group is here to help. We have a team of dedicated clinical negligence solicitors who will guide you through the process of making a claim. Call the team now on 0800 050 1668 or fill in the form below.
