Teaching and emergency hospital remains in ‘special measures’

An NHS inspectors’ report has ruled that Norfolk and Norwich Hospital remains in special measures following a ‘requires improvement’ rating.

Although the hospital has improved on an ‘inadequate’ rating six months previously, the report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that ‘definitive steps’ needed to be taken to ‘improve the culture, openness and transparency throughout the organisation and reduce inconsistencies in culture and leadership.’

The report also found that continued improvement must be made in the quality of care to patients with mental health concerns.

Speaking of the decision, the CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, Professor Ted Baker, said “While we found improvements in medical care, surgery and critical care, targets for mandatory training in medical care were not being met and governance process were not embedded.

“This meant there were inconsistencies in how risks were reviewed.”

Responding to the report, chief executive of the hospital, Mark Davies, said “Clearly we still have a lot to do, but the heroes of today are our staff.

“What they have achieved in a six-month period, most of that in the winter, is really exceptional.”

He added that staff at the hospital had taken the report “very, very seriously” and knew it had “to do things differently.”

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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.

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