CQC publishes reports on four Royal Cornwall hospitals

13 June 2011

The Care Quality Commission has published the findings of its first full review of compliance of services provided by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

CQC conducted the review of the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, St Michaels Hospital, Hayle, West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, and the Penrice birthing unit at St Austell Hospital as part of its routine schedule of planned reviews of all health and social care provision.

Inspectors visited all four hospitals in January and February, speaking to patients and staff, and reviewing a wide range of information. All four hospitals were found to be compliant with the 16 essential standards that relate most closely to quality and safety.

A separate report will be published next month on concerns which have been raised in relation to procedures in the operating theatres at the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske.

Inspectors made an unannounced visit to the hospital on 25 May after a recent 'never event' (a serious, largely preventable incident which should not happen).

Following the inspection, the Care Quality Commission has given the trust 28 days to address its concerns.

Bernadette Hanney, acting Regional Director of CQC in the South West, said that inspectors would return unannounced to check that the trust had made all the necessary improvements.

She said: "All care providers must know that we will continually monitor their compliance with the essential standards – and if there is good reason, we will visit unannounced to see for ourselves.

"We have already reported our concerns about the surgical procedures to the trust managers and we have made it clear that if the trust does not demonstrate full and consistent compliance in future we will take further action."

Ends

For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors

A 'never event' is defined as a serious, largely preventable patient safety incident that should not occur if the available preventative measures have been implemented by health care providers.