Border Care Quality Commission News

A Cumbrian NHS hospital which is under investigation over higher than expected mortality rates is falling short on three national standards for care, the health regulator said.

Following an unannounced inspection at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), said that "action is needed" to improve the care and welfare of patients.

"We found that patients had not received care, treatment or support that met their needs in a timely manner.

"There were not enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs.

"People were not protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment because accurate and appropriate records were not maintained."

The hospital is being investigated for being an "outlier" on the Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio for two years running.

Medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh launched an investigation into 14 trusts, including North Cumbria, because of high mortality rates.

"This is a extremely worrying report. All of the areas where the trust is identified as failing are a mirror of what came out of the Mid Staffordshire scandal."

• Health
• NHS Hospital
• Care Quality Commission

A health watchdog that investigated failings at hospitals in south Cumbria, has been severely criticised by MPs.

A damning report found that the Care Quality Commission is not trusted by the public and often just 'ticks boxes' rather than actually doing its job.

The Commision investigated the Morecambe Bay Trust which has its headquaters in Kendal, after a number of deaths at the maternity unit of the hospital in Barrow.

• UK
• Care Quality Commission
• Cumbria

Estephanie Dunn from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has told ITV Border that although patients seem to be happy there are major concerns around some of the failings.

She added that the RCN are looking forward to the new management when the Northumbria trust take over.

• UK
• Cumberland Infirmary
• Care Quality Commission

An inspection of the A and E ward at the Cumberland Infirmary has raised concerns about cleanliness and infection control, equipment suitability and staff support.

Staff from the Care Quality Commission inspected the ward at 6am on 12th June 2012 and reported minor concerns about:

• The storing of clinical waste bags
• Dirty laundry bags
• Black general refuse bags in a dirty utility room
• High level dusting hadn't been carried out in cubicles in the unit
• Some furniture required steam cleaning.
• Incomplete training records for staff.

They also reported minor concerns about a shortage of some equipment including pressure mattresses, which they noted was resolved. One inspector found a plug socket was broken with the wires exposed and this was brought to the attention of the ward manager who withdrew it from service.

In all other areas standards were met and practises have been introduced in the problems areas highlighted. The CQC's inspection of the West Cumberland Infirmary and found the Trust was meeting all six of the essential standards reviewed. The Director of Nursing and Quality told ITV Border:

"I'm both pleased and disappointed, I'm pleased with the staff that they were a credit to the organisation. Of the 100% of patients interviewed in private said they were all satisfied with the care they received. I am disappointed with the minor concerns but what is a really key message is that none of those concerns directly affected patient care."

• UK
• Cumberland Infirmary
• Care Quality Commission

A Care Quality Commission report into the West Cumberland hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary has been published.

At the West Cumberland Hospital inspectors found that the Trust was meeting all six of the essential standards which were reviewed.

At the Cumberland Infirmary inspectors found that the Trust was meeting standards of care relating to patient care and welfare, safeguarding, medicines management, and staffing.

However, the trust was not meeting standards of care covering staff support, assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision, safety, availability and suitability of equipment, and cleanliness and infection control.

CQC Trust have been told where they must make improvements and CQC will be monitoring the actions taken by the Trust to ensure that the necessary improvements are made.

Inspectors will revisit the Cumberland Infirmary at a future date without giving any notice to check that the required improvements have been made.

• UK
• Cumberland Infirmary
• Care Quality Commission

A report has highlighted major failings in the care of vulnerable children in Cumbria. Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission found that 4 out of 18 areas they examined were inadequate.

• UK
• Children's services
• Ofsted

Dr Colin Wilkinson from South Lakes Health Action group said they welcomed the appointment of Sir David Henshaw.

He said: 'Sir David has an impressive CV and reputation. I'm pleased to hear he wants to work with us but I didn't send a letter a month ago with no reply

'Hopefully he will be in touch soon. There does need to be change and I agree it may take a couple of years to get right and we wish him all the best.'

• Health
• david henshaw
• westmorland general