Progress recognised at SaTH

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found a number of improvements at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), but maintain that more work is needed to improve overall care.

Following its previous inspection in October 2014, inspectors visited the trust’s Princess Royal Hospital, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and its five mid-wife led maternity units, between 12 and 15 December 2016, discovering progress in end of life care and effective services.

The trust’s ‘Swan Scheme’, which provides resources for staff and practical measures for patients at the end of their lives and their families, was also highlighted as an area of outstanding practice.

However, the CQC says that the trust must undertake efforts to ensure all patients brought in by ambulance are promptly assessed and triaged by a registered nurse, and make sure that its emergency department meets the Department of Health’s target of discharging, admitting or transferring 95 per cent of patients within four hours of arrival in the department.

Ted Baker, CQC’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said: “End of life care services had made significant progress and we noted a positive change in culture among staff and leaders at the trust. The change in ratings in a number of areas acknowledges what has been achieved by the trust’s staff and leadership team and we found several examples of outstanding practice.

“We have made it clear where we expect to see further improvement and the trust knows what it must do to address the issues we have highlighted. We will continue to monitor Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and return to check on its progress.”

Simon Wright, chief executive at SaTH, said: “The CQC recognises a number of improvements since its last inspection. However, they still rated us a ‘Requires Improvement’. We recognise this as a fair and balanced report, and furthermore we will be encouraging the CQC to return to our hospitals to inspect areas that were not re-visited as part of the inspection as we know we have made other significant improvements.”