Clean bill of health for Trust’s hospitals

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given the hospitals run by Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust a clean bill of health.
Karen Jackson, chief executive of North Lincs and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.Karen Jackson, chief executive of North Lincs and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Karen Jackson, chief executive of North Lincs and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Today, the CQC published its reports on the Trust’s hospitals following inspections at Scunthorpe and Grimsby hospitals and a ‘desktop review’ of Goole hospital in December 2013. The regulatory body has now removed the ‘compliance actions’ it placed on the Trust in 2013 as it is satisfied that the three hospitals are fully compliant with all the CQC healthcare standards they were assessed against.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Karen Jackson said: “I’m delighted by the CQC’s verdict. Staff have worked exceptionally hard over the past year to make sure everything we do, from the care given to patients to our documentation and training, is done well.

“It’s very rewarding to read some of the positive comments the inspectors have made in their reports, and we are already working on the areas for improvement that they have highlighted.”

Trust chief nurse Dr Karen Dunderdale said: “The reports published today show that all three hospitals fully meet these CQC standards and we are delivering good quality care to our patients.

“The inspectors have noted the good progress we’ve made to improve patient care and treatment in all the areas they visited and observed that we have the right level of staff with the appropriate skills mix.”

Comments in the reports include:

Our review of the trust showed they had made progress in taking action to improve patient care and treatment in the areas we visited. We saw elements of good practice particularly in A&E and in the treatment of patients suffering from a stroke.

There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet patients’ needs. The trust had management structures, systems and procedures which were followed, monitored and reviewed to enable the effective maintenance of staffing levels.

Patients were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard. Good progress had been made to ensure all staff received mandatory training and appraisal. Staff morale was noted to have improved in most areas.

The Trust had introduced a number of initiatives to improve staff morale. This included reward and recognition for areas of good practice and clinical innovation. Staff engagement was encouraged by the Trust.

We spoke with a patient who had been transferred (to Grimsby hospital stroke unit) from the acute stroke unit at Scunthorpe hospital. They said, “Everything was explained to me and I have had five star treatment. I am so happy with the way I have been looked after.”

On the whole patients told us they had received a good standard of care. They told us they had been treated with dignity and respect. Patients told us they did not have to wait long before receiving treatment.

At Grimsby hospital: Across the wards we inspected there were systems in place to assess patient needs and plan their care. Staff consulted the right colleagues to ensure that patients received the most appropriate support. They reviewed patients’ health frequently and asked specialist doctors and other healthcare professionals to help with assessments and review treatment plans. Risk assessments were in place.

We also visited the maternity unit at Scunthorpe Hospital and found it was responsive to women’s care and treatment needs. One woman told us she had been treated as an individual and said, “The staff have all been fantastic and I’m very impressed with my treatment.”

On the hyperacute stroke unit, Scunthorpe hospital:

The unit was well organised and staff appeared enthusiastic and committed, providing good care for patients. We observed many caring interactions and no negative interactions were seen. Patients we spoke with said they had experienced good care. One patient said, “I was so frightened I have had a small stroke and I have been looked after really well.”

Another patient was transferred from A&E and said, “I feel safe and the doctors and nurses have been open and honest with me.”

The CQC’s original inspection in February 2013 (the final reports were published in June 2013) did not raise any ‘major’ concerns, but issues were identified with three of the ‘outcomes’ that were reviewed. The key issues related to documentation, completion of staff mandatory training, and completion of staff appraisals. The Trust had already identified these issues and had begun taking action to address them.

The ‘outcomes’ reviewed in December 2013 were:

Care and welfare of people who use services

Co-operating with other providers

Staffing

Supporting workers

Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision

Records

The CQC reports for Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole hospitals will be published on the CQC website http://www.cqc.org.uk/