A private hospital in Surrey has suspended children's surgery, after the health watchdog raised "serious concerns" about the safety of patients there. The Care Quality Commission demanded immediate improvements.
Liz Wickham reports.
After failings reported by the CQC, BMI's Chief Executive Stephen Collins said he has written to patients who may have been affected by a "particular incident".
– Stephen Collier, chief executive of BMI Healthcare"I want to reassure our patients that the hospital has already been in touch with anyone who may have been affected by a particular incident,"_
"I have personally written to all patients who were admitted for treatment at Mount Alvernia in the last year explaining what has happened and providing contact details should they want to discuss the matter further with us."_
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He added that BMI have reviewed its other hospitals and found "no similar issues".
A report about the inspection was due to be published today by the CQC, but was delayed after the hospital made last-minute representations on two issues, the watchdog said.
A spokesman for the CQC said "Following the inspection CQC raised serious concerns with the provider and formally warned them that immediate improvements were required to protect people from coming to harm._
"As a result of our concerns being raised with them, BMI agreed to voluntarily suspend children's surgical admissions at the hospital and to start making other changes required."We have continued to monitor the hospital closely. Full details of our inspection will be published shortly."
The hospital has apologised for the "entirely unacceptable" failings after the inspection in December 2012 and January 2013.
– Stephen Collier, chief executive of BMI Healthcare"The hospital's practices let BMI and our patients down and I apologise for that"."In 2012 we were not maintaining the high standards that we and our regulators demand at Mount Alvernia."However our staff responded selflessly and, with a strengthened team and support from our national clinical experts, have ensured that the failings identified at the turn of the year are now fully addressed and that the hospital continues to provide the high quality care for which it is known and which prevail across our other hospitals."
A private hospital has suspended children's surgery after the health watchdog raised "serious concerns" about the service.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) demanded immediate improvements at the BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, to "protect people coming to harm" following a recent inspection.