The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced that it has written to the Secretary of State for Health to recommend that special measures for the county’s NHS Acute Trust be extended by three to six months. This follows a number of inspections in local hospitals that found that the inadequacies that led to the Trust first being put into special measures in December 2015 have not yet been fully addressed. Special measures entail action by three organisations – the CQC, Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority – to help the Trust ensure they meet patients’ needs in a timely and effective way until such a time when the CQC is confident that the Trust can achieve this independently.
Reacting to the announcement, Mid Worcestershire MP Nigel Huddleston said, “I am disappointed to hear that the CQC believes an additional three to six months of special measures in Worcestershire is necessary. My primary concern as an MP, however, is the wellbeing of my constituents. So whilst it is highly regrettable that special measures are still necessary in Worcestershire, this is a decision that I fully support if it is one that has been deemed essential for patient safety. The report commented favourably on the quality of care at our local hospitals and this reflects the dedication and hard work of our local NHS staff, who continue to serve the people of Worcestershire in an exemplary manner in difficult conditions.
There has been considerable change at the senior management levels of the Acute Trust recently. A new executive team is now in place and a transitionary period is needed. I am hopeful, therefore, that the new team can address the problems that have hindered local services for the last two years. The prospect of this fresh team and the continued hard work of the staff in all of our hospitals make me confident that our county’s Trust can soon move beyond this challenging period. I will continue to work with fellow Worcestershire MPs and lobby health ministers for appropriate funding, resources and attention for our local hospitals.”