CQC says essential standards of care are being met at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

5 November 2010

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said today (Friday) that essential standards of safety and quality at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are being met. Since 1 April 2010, all NHS care providers have been required by law to be registered with CQC and must show that they are meeting the essential standards. Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust was registered on 1 April.

This latest review of the trust was triggered by concerns about patient care. This resulted in unannounced visits on 22 September 2010 at two locations - the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan and Wrightington Hospital.

“Following a meeting in July that was part of our review of the trust, I authorised an unannounced visit which took into account concerns raised by local people,” says Sue McMillan, CQC Regional Director for the North West. “I was keen that we assess the trust against three specific standards: care and welfare of people who use services, assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision, and complaints.

“The assessment team reported that the trust was meeting all three standards.”

Inspectors visited three wards at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary: Ince Ward (Cardiology), Swinley Ward (Surgery) and the Acute Stroke Unit (Shevington), and Wards 5 and 6 at Wrightington Hospital. This was to directly observe care, treatment and support, talk with patients about their current experience of the hospital and speak with the staff who work on these wards. CQC concluded that patients receive appropriate care as directed within individual care pathways.

In addition, CQC reviewed the trust’s systems for assessing and monitoring the quality of services it provides. The trust demonstrated it had an appropriate framework of governance in place that gathers, records and evaluates information about the quality and safety of care, treatment, support and outcomes of clinical services. CQC also considered relevant information it holds about the trust received from various other sources.

CQC also reviewed the management of complaints and concluded that the trust has procedures, followed in practice, for receiving and managing complaints which are monitored and reviewed as required. Recent changes to these procedures have been implemented. For example, the Medical Director now meets with all complainants, should their complaint not be resolved within three months of instigation. Although staff clearly understood the trust’s complaints procedure and management of complaints, they do not receive ongoing training in complaints handling.

While CQC was content with the cleanliness and tidiness of the wards it did note that the Stroke Unit at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary was more disorganised, with a generally cluttered environment. It acknowledged that staff were very busy and at times looked stressed. CQC also noted that this ward has recently undergone organisational changes that have resulted in two ward areas being joined and it is still in a period of transition.

A total of 14 patients and 13 staff across both locations were interviewed. Without exception CQC was informed during discussions with patients, of high levels of satisfaction with the care received. Most staff felt happy with the level and frequency of training available and newly qualified staff felt effectively supported by other colleagues or Ward Managers.

“Following this unannounced visit I am satisfied that the trust is meeting essential standards. I am also reassured that the Chief Executive and the senior management team have an up to date assessment of the day to day running of the wards visited,” says Sue McMillan. “And while there are a few actions the trust has to take in respect of record keeping, tidiness on one ward, and regular complaints management training, we did not deem these sufficiently serious that they warranted compliance action. However, we will continue to monitor progress. Finally, I would like to thank the patients, visitors and staff who provided us with vital evidence during our visit.”

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Notes to editors