Top hospitals 'censured in tough new inspection regime' - NHS trusts now need licences to keep working in the health service
A dozen NHS trusts in England have been told to improve or face tough sanctions. All 378 trusts need a licence from the Care Quality Commission to work in the NHS under a new regime from 1 April.
The regulator made the announcement after assessing trusts responsible for running hospitals, ambulances and mental health units against 16 core standards. It relied on inspections, performance data and staff and patient surveys.
Some of those with conditions have to act immediately, while others have several months to address the issues.
This is the first time trusts have had to gain a licence. It was piloted last year for infection control, but 1 April marks the start of the process in full.
Trusts have been assessed against 16 standards and will face regular assessments. If they do not meet the improvement deadlines the CQC has tough sanctions available including fines, prosecution or suspending certain services. Previous regulators have only been able to urge ministers to take action.
Nearly 130 trusts have been given foundation trust status since the scheme was launched in 2004 but confidence in the process has already been dented by scandals at the Mid Staffordshire and Basildon and Thurrock trusts, both of which have foundation status.
These two organisations have faced heavy criticism in the past year with Mid Staffordshire even undergoing an independent inquiry. Both are among the trusts told to improve under the new registration system.
Katherine Murphy, director of the Patients Association, said: "Foundation trusts are meant to be the premier league of the NHS. But these results call into question the assessment process and actual status. We believe there is too much emphasis placed on financial performance rather than quality of care. The foundation trust regime needs looking into."
The foundation trusts with conditions imposed are Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The other trusts with conditions are Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, East and North Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust, East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, and Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
Susan Brown, a top medical negligence lawyer at Reading based law firm Boyes Turner said: "The announcement today that 12 of the 'top' NHS Trusts in England & Wales have been told by the Care Quality Commission that they must improve or face sanctions does call into question the ranking of NHS Trusts. Of most concern is the fact that the most common reason for a Trust having conditions attached to registration is care and welfare of patients and staffing levels and knowledge.
One of the Foundation Trusts with a condition necessitating urgent action relates, in part, to patients developing pressure damage/sores following admission to hospital. We have handled numerous cases where patients have suffered serious pressure sores during hospital stays as a direct result of poor nursing care."
Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems we recommend that professional advice be sought.
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