Broomfield Hospital rated as ‘requires improvement’ by CQC

In one area, staff vacancies were at almost 60% meaning some wards were sometimes staffed entirely by agency staff, especially during night shifts.

Among the reasons given for the current rating are:

• Inconsistencies in safety practices amongst the core services and an inconsistent approach to leadership.
• No effective processes in place to ensure that learning from serious incidents was shared and embedded to minimise the risk of re-occurrence.
• Individual teams did not have strategic plans in place to allow them to develop their services. Staff told us that this was due to the focus on plans for the potential merger with two other local NHS trusts and awaiting approval for the clinical reconfiguration. This meant that should either of the plans experience delay the services did not have clear plans for the future.
• There had been a significant churn in the executive management team since our last inspection. This had affected the leadership’s team ability to implement their governance improvement plan.
• There had been significant issues with the implementation of a new electronic patient management system in May 2017. This had affected the trust’s ability to deliver reliable validated information in regard to some key performance indicators.

There were however some high points in the report with outstanding practice noted in:

• The use of robotics to allow surgeons to perform complex procedures and more minimally invasive procedures.
• Enhanced support workers to work alongside nursing staff to support patients with complex needs.
• Innovative use of various techniques, such as sensory equipment and animal handling, for stimulation, distraction and comfort for children with different emotional and physical needs.
• The trust funded staff in the neo natal unit to complete their post registration education (Qualified in Speciality).

Clare Panniker, Chief Executive of MEHT said, “This was the rating we were expecting. We have faced a number of challenges in recent years and I’m reassured that most of the issues raised by the CQC are ones we had already identified ourselves and have started to address.”.

She added: “We are well-sighted on the issues we are facing here at Mid Essex, and understand the scale of the improvements needed. As we continue to prepare for the planned merger with Basildon and Southend hospitals, we are determined to rise to the challenge, and have already started to see real change.

Take a look at the current key performance figures for Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust or use the search box below to find key performance figures for your trust.

Related stories:

https://blackwaterlaw.co.uk/medical-negligence-at-broomfield-hospital-care-quality-commission-raises-concerns/