Medical services at Royal Lancaster Infirmary rated inadequate

The Care Quality Commission carried out an unannounced inspection at Royal Lancaster Infirmary following concerns received about risks to patients.

The health watchdog found the hospital did not have enough staff to keep people safe at times, the culture was “poor” and it lacked facilities.

The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust, that runs the hospital, said it fully accepted the findings and was already implementing improvements.

The report found poor leadership and an unsuitable environment with “damaged flooring, crumbling walls and broken furnishings”.

It went on to say that staff did not always understand how to protect patients from abuse, infection risk was not controlled well and safety incidents were not always managed well.

Ann Ford, deputy chief inspector of hospitals at the CQC, said there was “a poor culture” and “lack of dedicated facilities to help older people into recovery and rehabilitation.”

Jackie Bird, interim executive chief nurse at the trust, said “We have already taken a number of actions, including moving one of the wards to new purpose-built facilities, enhancing the level of care offered to the patients.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of 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.

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