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Cumbrian hospital care standards criticised

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."

– Care Quality Commission report

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."

– Glenn Turp, Northern regional director, Royal College of Nursing