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The Care Quality Commission has found improvements in maternity services run by the University Hospital of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust, but has told the trust that action is needed to increase staffing levels on a medical ward at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

The CQC reports, which are published today, identify the findings from unannounced inspections at both the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General which took place in October 2013. These visits were carried out as part of CQC’s scheduled inspection programme for 2013/14.

The visiting inspection team included four CQC inspectors, an obstetrician and a specialist in midwifery.

On inspection, they found the trust’s maternity services were meeting national standards. Patients experienced care that met their needs, were treated with respect and dignity, and there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty. In addition, inspectors found that improvements had been made at Furness General Hospital to address previously identified shortfalls in relation to infection control.

However, significant concerns were identified in relation to standards of staffing on a medical ward at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. For example:

• Staff told inspectors that staff shortages were affecting their ability to provide adequate care that fully met patients’ individual needs.
• Inspectors found insufficient staffing may have contributed to high numbers of  medication errors and  patient falls.
• Several patients raised concerns with inspectors that they had to wait for long periods of time before they received assistance or support from staff on the ward.

As a result of the inspection, CQC has issued a formal warning to the trust, requiring improvements in relation to staffing on ward 39 at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.  We will return, unannounced, to check that the necessary improvements have been made.

Inspectors have since met with trust executives to discuss the action plan being put in place

Malcolm Bower-Brown, CQC’s Regional Director for the North said:

“We are pleased to report the improvement in maternity services we found on our inspection.

However, the staffing concerns identified on ward 39 at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary were unacceptable, and we warned the trust that it must take further action to ensure safe and effective care is provided to every patient. 

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully, liaising closely with NHS England, Monitor and local commissioners, to ensure that the required improvements are implemented.

“Our inspectors will return unannounced to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary to ensure that the required improvements have been implemented and are being sustained.”

Ends

For further information please contact the CQC Regional Communications Team, David Fryer 07901 514 220 or Kirstin Hannaford 0191 233 3629.

The CQC press office can be contacted on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors

Read the full inspection reports from our checks on the standards at Furness General Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Inspectors found that the University Hospital of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust was failing to meet the following standards:

• Staffing
• Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.