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University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust put into special measures
Monitor has put the struggling NHS foundation trust into special measures due to concerns about the quality of care it provides.
The decision follows a recent comprehensive inspection by the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Chief Inspector of Hospitals which identified that progress had been made in dealing with a number of concerns, but that the quality of care was still inadequate.
The CQC inspection found University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust needs to increase staffing levels across the organisation and improve the way it is run.
Monitor has therefore taken further regulatory action, which will see the trust develop and deliver a plan to improve the way the trust is managed.
Morecambe Bay has been in breach of its licence to provide healthcare services since October 2011 and Monitor has taken a number of steps to secure improvements in A&E and maternity services which has been recognised by CQC’s inspection team.
Level of care and the quality of senior leadership “not good enough”
As part of special measures Monitor will appoint an Improvement Director, whose role will be to provide support and expertise but also to hold the trust to account.
Monitor will take further regulatory action if improvements are not made.
Adam Cayley, Regional Director at Monitor, said:
The trust has co-operated with Monitor in making some improvements in recent years, but the Chief Inspector of Hospitals has reported on wider failings in care that must be addressed.
The level of care and the quality of senior leadership at this trust has not been good enough, that’s why we’ve put Morecambe Bay into special measures.
The pressure is on to turn things around for its patients, but the trust will receive extra support and guidance as it starts to address the many issues it faces.
