Improvements at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

23 December 2009

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has taken action to address concerns about infection prevention and control and is now meeting minimum hygiene standards.

But the trust must continue to address remaining areas of concern, says CQC . It will carry out further checks on remaining areas of concern, looking particularly at the quality of emergency care.

CQC triggered action at the trust last month when it highlighted concerns about the A&E department, including:

• a poor care environment;
• inadequate arrangements to treat children
• poor nursing care.

CQC also drew attention to concerns about leadership on these issues, breaches of infection control standards, high mortality rates for emergency admissions and worries about the quality of care of people with learning disabilities.

The regulator shared its information with foundation trust regulator, Monitor, which used its formal powers to accelerate improvement, putting a taskforce in place. The two regulators continue to work closely together on the issues.

Since raising these issues publicly on November 27, CQC has carried out an unannounced follow-up inspection on 4 December. It found that the trust has met the requirements of a warning notice issued in October. This means the trust is now meeting the minimum requirements for infection prevention and control.

In the new year, CQC will review evidence about the A&E department, carrying out further unannounced inspections, to check that recommendations for improvement have been acted upon.

Ends

Notes to editors