Widow blames NHS 111 for husband's death
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Families blame hospital for deaths
Dozens of families have contacted ITV London over the treatment of their loved ones at Basildon Hospital.
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Warning notice issued to Basildon Hospital
Andrea Gordon from the Care Quality Commission said:
"We were pleased to see some improvements had been made and it is important that these are now embedded and sustained.
"However, we also found the trust needed to carry out more work in relation to how it assesses and assures itself of the quality of its own service. In light of this CQC has issued a warning asking the trust to ensure improvements are made in relation to this.
"Our inspectors will be returning in the near future to check on whether this further work has been effectively completed."
Further action needed on waiting times for children
The Care Quality Commission has also called for further action on the amount of time it takes for children to be seen by doctors.
The report says:
"Registration of children in the A&E department was not ideal as they had to queue with adults at times and following assessment out of hours , the children's waiting area was not visible to staff. The A&E reception area was crowded at times and we saw sporadic and changeable A&E assessment practices in the front reception area. It was difficult to visualise all parts of the waiting area. This could mean that a deteriorating patient may not be noticed quickly which is a concern.
"Children who attended as out patients for dermatology, orthopaedic and Ear Nose and Throat appointments were not seen in the dedicated paediatric out patient clinic. This was not good practice and is against NICE guidance."
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"Ineffective risk management practices" at hospital
The CQC's report criticised risk management practices at the hospital:
"In the paediatric department we found ineffective risk management practices such as incomplete risk registers, action plans not signed off or made clear as to who was accountable for ensuring actions were taken....Poor practices and behaviours were left unchallenged. Lessons were not learned and staff morale was undermined."
Basildon Hospital has been served a warning notice, to be met by the 13th of August 2013.
Call for further improvements at Basildon Hospital
Basildon Hospital has been told it still needs to make improvements, following another inspection by the Care Quality Commission.
In November last year, warnings were issued to the Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Trust about issues in the following areas:
Storage of medicines. Some medicines were out of date.
Children waiting too long to be seen by doctors.
Learning from past mistakes.
A further inspection in January this year found that, while improvements had been made in the storage of medicines, action was still needed in the other two areas.
The hospital has also been told to improve its cleanliness and infection control.
Hunt agrees to refer A&E closures to independent panel
The plans to close A&E units at four London hospitals will be referred to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel for more detailed assessment and review.
The proposed closure of Charing Cross Hospital along with the closures of Hammersmith, Ealing and Central Middlesex A&E provision following a limited period of consultation has been challenged both in the Commons and by EalingCouncil.
Andy Slaughter MP, put the request to Jeremy Hunt in the Commons this afternoon and although Hammersmith and Fulham Council were in support of these closures,Mr Hunt immediately replied that he would refer the plans to the IRP if Ealing Council were in support.
Claims of appalling standards at Basildon Hospital
New claims have emerged of appalling standards of care at an Essex hospital, that's already been warned about its persistently high death rates.
The family of a man who's currently being treated at a Basildon Hospital say he's suffered multiple infections and staff have failed to change soiled sheets and help him eat and drink.
They've been speaking exclusively to our reporter, Tom Barton.
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NHS defend North West London A&E cuts
The Medical Director of NHS North-West London, Mark Spencer, has explained their decision to cut A&Es from four of their hospitals.
Paul Brand on the A&E Closures
A&E decision ''shameful''
Unanimous vote to close A&Es. Shameful. Bureaucrats doing the Tories' dirty work #saveourhospitals http://t.co/lQEEpvDX
From @hammersmithandy on Twitter:A&E closures confirmed
The leaks and rumours have been confirmed today - health bosses have approved the closure of four accident and emergency units in north-west London.
Hammersmith, Charing Cross, Central Middlesex and Ealing hospitals will all see their services downgraded. Campaigners say that will put lives at risk - but the NHS insists it will actually improve patient care.
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