CQC – Cambridgeshire staff shortages affecting urgent healthcare

A report by the Care Quality Commission has said that staff shortages in the health sector needed to be addressed to “reduce the risk of harm to people”, adding that emergency care services were “struggling to meet patient need”.

The report said that despite staff going “above and beyond”, people did not always receive timely treatment and care.

Over 20 inspections were carried out across the integrated care system, which is a partnership of the county’s emergency NHS hospitals, local councils and community and voluntary health organisations.

The CQC’s director of integrated care, inequalities and improvement, Mandy Williams, said “We found staff shortages in adult social care meant people remained in hospital when they should have been discharged to respite services.

“This reduced the number of available beds elsewhere in hospitals where patients in emergency departments could be referred.”

Ms Williams added that leaders could improve the situation “through smarter ways of working, staff recruitment and retention, and collaboration”.

“Without further management there is a risk the quality and safety of care people receive could be undermined.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 304 7382