Northampton General Hospital

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

This means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

At our last assessment we rated this key question inadequate. At this assessment we did not rate this key question as we only looked at specific aspects in response to the Section 29a Warning Notice (WN). The rating for safe has remained as inadequate.

We assessed 3 quality statements and found improvements had been made in line with the WN. There was a greater awareness of the risks to people across their care journey. Improvements had been made to systems and processes to support flow through the department. Risks were assessed, and people and staff understood them. Staff assessed the risks to patients of developing a pressure ulcer or skin damage.

However, whilst improvements in the prevention of pressure ulcers were found, implementation of pressure sore prevention aids was variable.

We have not awarded this service a score for Safe.

Find out about when we will not publish a key question score and what we look at when we assess Safe.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safeguarding during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

During our previous assessment, we were not assured patients had their privacy and dignity respected in all areas of the department when they received care, treatment, and bad news. Communication in the waiting rooms, corridors, and seating areas was not private and could be overheard. Eight out of 13 (62%) patients did not feel they had been treated with dignity or respect. During this assessment we found some improvements had been made, however, the service was restricted with the layout of the building to fully support patients’ privacy and dignity.

We did not look at Safe and effective staffing during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.