- NHS hospital
Lincoln County Hospital
Assessment report published 14 May 2025
Contents
Ratings - Urgent and emergency services
Our view of the service
We carried out this assessment following information of concern around delayed access to care. We inspected 11 quality statements across the safe, effective, caring and well-led key questions and have combined the scores for these areas with scores from the last inspection to give the rating.
The service worked with partners to try to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed, monitored and assured. Staff told us that the flow in to and out of the service was the main challenge they faced. There were long waits for beds across the department in both the majors and seated majors’ areas.
The service worked with people to understand what being safe means. We observed hospital staff work well with ambulance staff and follow good safeguarding processes.
The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. The service made sure that the equipment and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Some of the facilities did not always meet the standards for safe care, however the trust provided us with assurance about how the risks were managed in these areas.
Most patients needs were assessed appropriately and staff provided examples of how they worked well together.
However, the service did not always maximise the effectiveness of people’s care and treatment. Staff told us relationships could improve with other areas of the hospital and with other care providers.
We observed staff treat people with kindness, empathy and compassion and respect their privacy and dignity as much as possible throughout the inspection.
Leaders told us they were inclusive at all levels. Some staff however, told us that they did not always feel well supported by leaders or the leadership team.
Leaders endeavoured to foster a positive culture where people feel that they can speak up and that their voice will be heard. However, staff felt attempts made by the freedom to speak up guardian and leaders had not had much of an impact.
People's experience of this service
Patients we spoke to were mostly satisfied with the care they received within a very busy environment.