Investigations Find Major Failures At 11 Hospital Trusts

The Government has announced this week the 11 hospital trusts are to be placed in special measures due to major failings.

Investigations commenced earlier this year following the Public Inquiry into Stafford Hospital. A total of 14 trusts were investigated and were identified due to having the highest death rates for 2010-11 and 2011-12.

The 11 hospital trusts placed in special measures are:

1. North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust;
2. Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
3. Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust;
4. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust;
5. Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
6. Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
7. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust;
8. George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust;
9. Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
10. Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust; and
11. Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

Investigations also took place and improvements were recommended at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.

The investigations were led by the medical director of NHS England, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh.

The Keogh review used two different measures of mortality rates in order to identify which trusts should be investigated:

1. Deaths up to 30 days after discharge; and
2. Death in hospital.

The focus was then on whether the high death rates indicated sustained failings in the quality of care and treatment at the trusts.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh said:

“Mediocrity is simply not good enough and, based on the findings from this review I have set out an achievable ambition which will help these hospitals improve dramatically over the next two years.”

He also said that whilst the findings were worrying, none of the trusts had the scale of problems that were seen at Stafford Hospital.

The problems identified at the trusts included:

• Patients being left on trolleys, unmonitored for excessive periods and then being talked down to by consultants.
• Poor maintenance in operating theatres, potentially putting patients in danger.
• Patients often being moved repeatedly between wards without being told why.
• Staff working for 12 days in a row without a break.
• Low levels of clinical cover – especially out of hours.

Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, cited examples of staffing problems, poor care and weak leadership and said:

“We have taken swift and tough action to make sure these hospitals are given all necessary support to improve. We owe it to the three million people who use the NHS every week to tackle and confront mediocrity and inadequate leadership head on.”

Special measures will include teams of external experts going into the organisations to work with the senior management teams. Regular updates will be given on their progress and all unsafe practices have stopped immediately.

It is concerning to learn the level of problems that have been identified at so many trusts. Investigators are said to have confidence that the leadership at the trusts were capable of making the changes needed, but it will certainly take time and a lot of work to restore public confidence following the publication of this information.

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Danielle Young is an Associate in our specialist Medical Negligence team. Contact Danielle or another member of the team on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form and they will be happy to discuss our services with you.