Posted 16 December 2016 - 12:32
Posted 16 December 2016 - 12:32
News
Concerns remain for nurse staffing and training levels at troubled NHS trust
The CQC has said clinical governance and leadership at an NHS trust have improved but nurse staffing and training levels remain a concern.
Clinical governance and leadership at an NHS trust have improved but nurse staffing and training levels remain concerning, according to the healthcare regulator.
Picture: Alamy
The Care Quality Commission had rated urgent and emergency care services at North Middlesex University Hospital as inadequate, and issued a warning notice for significant improvements, following an inspection in May.
But following a fresh inspection in September, inspectors say oversight and management of the emergency department has improved.
Training and staffing issues
Yet the CQC says the trust still needs further improvement and highlights gaps in vital training and reports of bullying and harassment in some areas.
It found safeguarding training was well below target for both nurses and doctors and none of the nurses on the surgical assessment unit had completed advanced life support training.
Inspectors found an increase in nursing and healthcare assistant vacancies between April and June this year, resulting in critical care being understaffed by 12 whole-time equivalent nurses. There was also high usage of agency nurses.
Evidence of bullying
Staff also described a culture of bullying and harassment in critical care and maternity services, including evidence of bullying on the labour ward involving student and preceptorship midwives.
An investigation is ongoing and a trust-wide drive to improve relationships and eliminate bullying and harassment is getting underway.
Chief inspector of hospitals Sir Mike Richards said improvements have been made since the inspection in May including the appointment of a new chief executive and senior managers and better clinical governance and oversight.
Sir Mike said: ‘I am pleased to report the situation in North Middlesex's emergency department has improved from when we inspected in May 2016.
'While services are no longer inadequate, there is still a long way to go at the hospital as a whole.’
He added that outpatient and diagnostic services had strong leadership and surgery was impressive.
‘The task now is to ensure that the improvements we have seen are sustained and built on for the future
'I have no doubt that before long we will return to check on the trust's progress.’ Sir Mike said.
Trust response
The CQC has said the trust must improve mandatory training levels of medical and nursing staff, and ensure they are trained to identify and support the needs of patients with learning disabilities and those with dementia.
Trust chief executive Libby McManus said: ‘Staff should be proud of the work they are doing yet conscious of and committed to the further improvements needed to ensure our patients get the very best.’
She said she was delighted the CQC had recognised the significant and focused work being done.
‘We want our patients and the local community to know that they can have renewed trust and confidence in the hospital’s services.
'Our staff are determined to keep on improving help and support.’
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