CQC requires improvement at Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

11 December 2013

The Care Quality Commission has told Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust that it must make improvements to comply with national standards of quality and safety.

This follows an unannounced three day inspection of University Hospital Aintree in Fazakerley, Liverpool in September 2013. The visit took place as part of CQC’s scheduled programme of inspections for 2013-14.

The CQC’s inspection report, which is published today, identifies shortfalls against three of the seven national standards reviewed. Areas of particular concern included:

• Inspectors observed delays in admitting patients due to a lack of bed space in inpatient areas.
• Patients who had a diagnosis of dementia were not being fully supported with a comprehensive assessment leading to concerns that their individual needs would not be fully met.
• Although systems were in place to assess the quality of service provision and manage risk, inspectors found that they were not always implemented consistently.
• Effective systems were not in place to support good complaints management and inspectors were concerned that in cases where complaints and incidents had been reported and followed up by the trust, there was little evidence of any learning or actions having being taken to prevent reoccurrence.

As a result of the inspection, CQC has issued a formal warning to the trust, requiring improvements in relation to standards of assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision. Compliance actions have been set in relation to the additional two areas where shortfalls were identified.

Inspectors will return, unannounced, to check that the necessary improvements have been made.

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

“We were disappointed to find these shortfalls against national standards and have 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.

“We will not hesitate to take further regulatory action, should this be necessary to ensure patients receive the quality of care and support they are entitled to expect.”

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

CQC has published further a full report on the website here.

Inspectors found that Aintree University hospital NHS Foundation Trust was failing to meet three standards:

• Care and welfare of people who use services
• Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision
• Records