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Monitor and Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Foundation Trust have agreed a package of new regulatory measures aimed at improving standards of care at the trust.

The health sector regulator has taken action following the trust receiving six warning notices from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for breaching essential standards.

Monitor is concerned long-standing issues at the trust, such as inadequate nursing care and poor hygiene standards, have failed to be resolved despite the implementation of a previously agreed recovery plan.

Under the new package of regulatory measures:

• The trust has agreed to develop and implement an action plan to address the specific concerns identified by the CQC and underlying issues;
• An Improvement Director will be appointed by Monitor to ensure these issues are dealt with effectively; and
• The trust will receive external support and expertise in delivering the improvements required.

As part of the action plan the trust will conduct a review into the effectiveness of its clinical oversight and ward management.
Monitor will continue to work closely with key partners including the CQC and NHS England to ensure the proposed measures deliver the required improvements for patients.

Mark Turner, Regional Director at Monitor, said:

"We believe this package of external support and on-the-ground regulatory scrutiny will ensure the necessary improvements are made to provide patients with high quality care.

"We acknowledge the trust has addressed some of its weakness, such as significantly improving its A&E care. However, there is still much work to be done before it can be said to be providing satisfactory care on a consistent basis.

"We will be monitoring the trust’s progress closely and will not hesitate to take further regulatory action if required."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• For further information please contact the Press Office on press.office@monitor.gov.uk or 020 3747 0800
• Monitor is the sector regulator of NHS-funded health care services. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 its main duty is to protect and promote the interests of people who use them. Information about Monitor’s role can be found here
• Follow Monitor on Twitter @MonitorUpdate