Hospitals in special measures after telling staff to re-wear single-use PPE

Onus on nurses to ensure staff’s hand hygiene compliance, in absence of proper infection prevention and control protocols at John Monroe and Edith Shaw hospitals in Staffordshire

Two private mental health hospitals have been placed in special measures after inspectors found they had not protected staff and service users from coronavirus, with staff told to re-use disposable personal protective equipment (PPE).

The John Munroe and Edith Shaw hospitals in Staffordshire, run by the John Munroe Group, were downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ because staff and patient safety was endangered by a lack of effective infection prevention and control measures.

Staff told to take single-use visors home to clean and re-wear

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors visited in January and uncovered basic lapses in hygiene and poor practice in the use of PPE.

‘Staff reported being asked to wear the same face masks for multiple days and being asked to take single-use visors home to clean and re-wear,’ reports for both hospitals state.

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‘When staff requested additional PPE, they reported being challenged by managers, who questioned why it was required.’

Donning and doffing from COVID-positive environments in COVID-free areas

At the John Munroe Hospital, inspectors found a lack of space to don and doff PPE.

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‘This meant staff who were providing care for COVID-19 positive patients had to enter areas which were classed as COVID-19 free to remove their PPE,’ the report states.

At both sites, inspectors found inadequate hand-washing facilities for staff and a lack of management oversight in hand hygiene.

‘We are all working tirelessly to ensure robust systems are in place to effectively safeguard and protect everyone in our care, employment and the local community’

Paul Birks, operational director, John Monroe Group

‘We were told managers relied on nursing staff to ensure staff followed hand hygiene procedures without a formal process being in place,’ the reports say.

Operator ‘disappointed’ by downgraded ratings

In a statement on behalf of the John Munroe Group, operational director Paul Birks said the organisation was disappointed with the CQC ratings.

However, he said the inspections had highlighted key areas for improvement and immediate steps had been taken to address the issues raised.

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‘We are all working tirelessly to ensure robust systems are in place to effectively safeguard and protect everyone in our care, employment and the local community,’ he said.

Mr Birks confirmed there were currently no cases of COVID-19 among patients or staff at either hospital.

Care Quality Commission to monitor progress at both hospitals

CQC deputy chief inspector of hospitals Kevin Cleary said while he was pleased the John Munroe Group had now taken steps to protect people from COVID-19, both hospitals would be monitored closely.

Further information

Edith Shaw Hospital inspection report

John Monroe Hospital inspection report

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