A focused inspection by the Care Quality Commission has shown some improvements at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Tooting, south west London.
Immediately after a previous comprehensive inspection in June and July 2016, CQC issued a Warning Notice to the trust highlighting breaches in regulations related to: safe and fit premises at St George’s Hospital; obtaining consent under the Mental Capacity Act, 2005; good governance and the fit and the proper person requirement.
During the latest inspection in May 2017, inspectors checked whether the trust was meeting the requirements of the Warning Notice. CQC found that the trust had partially met the requirements.
The trust had made significant improvements regarding: mental capacity act assessments; best interest decisions; deprivation of liberty safeguards; some elements of premises and equipment, medicines management and managing incidents. The trust was not rated following the recent focused inspection.
However, the trust is still required to make further improvements with regards to the fit and proper persons’ requirement, estates maintenance, accuracy of the referral to treatment data and governance.
CQC’s key findings included:
- Systems and processes that operate effectively in accordance with good governance remain weak.
- The trust had made significant progress with regards to addressing legionella risks in the water system.
- There had been improvements in monitoring prescriptions and the risk of these going missing had been reduced.
- Renal services had been relocated, so patients were no longer in an unsafe environment.
- Operating theatres 5 and 6 had been refurbished since the previous inspection.
- The water leaks to the maternity staff room had been resolved.
- Governance around estates management had improved and there were annual reports for all services.
- Serious incidents were now being reported within internal and external Key Performance Indicator deadlines.
- Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards training, understanding and application had improved.
- There were mechanisms in place to ensure that staff delivering end of life care services in the acute hospitals and community services worked closely together.
- The trust was continuing to fail meet the Fit and Proper Person Requirement Regulation.
Importantly the trust must now ensure that it has systems and processes that operate effectively in accordance with good governance.
It must strengthen governance and reporting arrangements, so as to provide the Board with increased oversight of Elective Care Recovery Programme delivery.
It must continue to address the gaps in assurance with regards to estates maintenance.
Ensure it meets the Fit and Proper Person Requirement regulation.
England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Ted Baker, said: “It is encouraging that St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has made some improvements since our comprehensive inspection of last year. However after our recent inspection in May 2017, it is clear there are still areas where the trust should improve.
“We will be working with the trust to ensure that improvements continue and I hope that this will lead to an overall improvement to its rating in due course.”
Ends
For media enquiries, contact Ray Cooling, Regional Engagement Manager (London), on 020 7448 9136 or call the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours. Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. (Please note: the duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters). For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.
It is encouraging that St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has made some improvements since our comprehensive inspection of last year.
Professor Ted Baker, Chief Inspector of Hospitals,