Patients praise Savernake Hospital but care regulator says it must improve training and record keeping

11 January 2011

The Care Quality Commission has told Wiltshire Primary Care Trust that it must improve its staff training and records management at Savernake Hospital.

A report which is published today by CQC outlines improvements which must be made by the community hospital to meet essential standards of quality and safety.

Inspectors visited Savernake Hospital in November, speaking to patients and staff on the Ailesbury Unit. The inspection team reviewed a range of information on all 16 essential standards.

Although people who used the service were full of praise for the hospital and its staff, the report identifies two main areas for improvement

Support to staff

Some staff had not been trained in key areas such as consent,safeguarding and restraint, and infection control. There were no records to show that all staff had received induction training.

Records

The inspectors found that records, including those relating to patient care, staff employment checks and equipment maintenance, were not always complete or up-to-date.

Wiltshire NHS has been given 28 days to produce its plans to show how it intends to achieve compliance. By law, providers of health care services have a legal responsibility to make sure they are meeting the essential standards of quality and safety.

Ian Biggs, Regional Director of CQC in the South West said that his staff would continue to monitor the hospital to ensure that the necessary improvements are made.

He said: "Patients we spoke to on the ward were full of praise for Savernake Hospital and its staff, and their views are reflected in our report.

“However, the records suggest that not all staff, including bank and agency nurses brought in on a temporary basis, had received the necessary training. The standard of record keeping generally on the ward was also poor. Both of these issues are important because they have a direct bearing on people’s safety and wellbeing.

"We know that there were staffing shortages and performance issues last year which led to the ward closing 12 beds for three months. While they have now increased staffing levels, they need to take further steps to support staff with regular training and supervision.

“We are pleased that the hospital has already taken steps to improve performance by appointing a permanent ward manager who will provide stability for staff.

"We will follow up this report later in the year to ensure that the improvements we've outlined here are properly implemented."

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

Savernake Hospital is a community hospital run by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust. Ailesbury Unit is 24 bedded general medical ward which provides rehabilitation services to people who have undergone a period of acute hospital care. People are also admitted from the community for assessment, treatment and support prior to discharge back to their usual place of residence, or placement in a care home. The unit also provides palliative care to people who are nearing the end of their lives.