Last Friday’s Hastings Observer reported on the Care Quality Commission (“CQC”) investigation into East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, the body responsible for the Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in Hastings. The CQC investigation has given rise to profound concern about the standard of patient care in both hospitals.
In its original report the CQC found that nursing staff lacked appropriate training; patients were going thirsty after water was left out of reach; and on one occasion it was reported that a pensioner was left on a trolley for seven hours despite suffering from a broken hip.
Following the report the Trust was given until 2 September to improve services or face possible closure of certain services.
Although the Trust issued an apology to patients at the time of the original report in July, the CQC recently revealed that the Conquest Hospital is continuing to fail to reach its targets. This latest report found that in certain wards medical records and care plans were incomplete. In one particular case CQC inspectors noted that a patient was badly bruised, but the medical records for the patient said there was no bruising.
As a result of the these latest findings the CQC has told the Trust that it has two weeks to report back to them on how it plans to improve standards by the September 2 deadline.
Darren Grayson CEO of the Trust has responded to the CQC report saying that “we are committed to get every aspect of care right for our patients” and ”we are confident that the actions we are taking will address the concerns raised by the CQC”
At Mayo Wynne Baxter we are regularly asked to advise on medical negligence claims against this Trust and NHS Trusts across the South of England and it is striking how often failures in basic nursing care of the kind reported by the CQC arise. It is vital that these shortcomings are addressed, as our experience shows how these basic failings can set in train a sequence of events that leads to serious injury or even death in some instances.
If you or a member of your family are concerned about the standard of medical care you have received please contact a member of the Clinical Negligence team through our website at www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk.
By Katy Meade
