- NHS hospital
Royal Oldham Hospital
Assessment report published 1 May 2025
Contents
Ratings - Medical care (Including older people's care)
Our view of the service
Medical care at the Royal Oldham Hospital is provided by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. We carried out this assessment in response to information of concern.
The service was rated as requires improvement. Following the assessment, we issued the trust a warning notice under section 29 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 on 11 October 2024. The warning notice was issued due to concerns we had regarding the trust’s continuous flow model (CFM). Our concerns included the trust not having clear processes for decision making, clinical and environmental risk assessments relating to the transfer of patients to non-clinical spaces on medical wards as part of the model. We also identified regulatory breaches relating to responsivity, medicines management, and health and safety that did not form part of the warning notice. However, aside from our concerns, the service had a positive safety-focussed culture. Safety incidents and complaints were managed well, and lessons learned. Staff were compliant with mandatory training. Staff quickly acted upon patients who were at risk of deterioration. Records were stored securely, up to date and clear. The service provided treatment based on national guidance and evidence-based practice. Care was planned and organised with people and stakeholders to maintain safety and continuity of care. The service-controlled infection risks well. Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness. Leaders had the skills and experience to carry out their roles but did not always have resources and space to manage the priorities and issues the service faced.
People's experience of this service
Many patients told us staff treated them with kindness, compassion and dignity. They said they could raise concerns, were aware of their treatment plan and felt involved in their treatment. They felt the environment was clean, met their needs, and that equipment was available for staff. Patients said they had consented to their treatment, and staff explained this to them in a way they could understand. They felt they were treated as individuals and protected characteristics were taken into consideration.
However, some patients, transferred as part of the CFM, said there was a lack of communication regarding their care journey. They said there were not always enough permanent staff on the wards, and that information was not always shared with them about their care or treatment. Some patients and their families felt staff did not always meet the communication needs of those with dementia. Patients did not always know how to give feedback about their experiences of care and support including how to raise any concerns or issues.