Hospital inspection system 'flawed'

Friday, November 27, 2009

The quality and thoroughness of inspections has been brought into question again – this time over how hospitals are regulated after an unannounced inspection found major problems at Basildon University Hospital and Orsett hospital, both in Essex.

Even though the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the trust running the hospitals as "good" in October, the unannounced inspection – also carried out by the CQC – found care to be sub-standard.

In particular, the inspection found floors and curtains stained with blood, equipment trays spattered with blood, soiled mattresses in the A&E department, single-use items being used more than once, out-of-date equipment in the resuscitation room, a child's blood pressure cuff heavily stained with blood, and suction machines contaminated with fluid and a mould-like substance growing on them.

The Patients Association's director Katherine Murphy said: "How many times do the public need to keep hearing about this before the government is embarrassed enough to do something about it? The evidence was there but not acted on. That is completely unacceptable. The system of regulation and supervision needs to be urgently reformed."

Michael Large, chairman of Basildon and Thurrock NHS trust – which was one of the first in England to be granted foundation trust status – said: "It is an extremely serious matter and we do not seek to underestimate its gravity. I want to reassure our local community that the safety and well-being of our patients is our highest priority."

The CQC has asked Monitor, the regulator of foundation trusts, to sort out the problems

Its chairman Dr William Moyes said: "We will be reviewing the trust's performance regularly and in detail – if we don't see measurable results quickly, we'll take further action."

CQC chair Baroness Young said the current inspection system is flawed and needs to be changed.

Andrew Lansley, Tory shadow health secretary, said: "When the appalling standards of care at Stafford Hospital were revealed we were assured by Labour ministers that it was 'an isolated case' – that sort of complacency is simply not good enough."

And Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrats health spokesman, said: "People have a right to know how on earth a hospital can be rated 'good' a few weeks before such serious failings come to light."