Medical care at three NHS hospitals in Essex show improvement

Improvements have been made at three NHS hospitals in Essex after failings were identified by inspectors earlier this year.

Medical care at Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals was rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June.

But follow-up reports published this week upped each rating to requires improvement.

The chief executive for the hospitals said: “We still have some way to go.”

In June’s report, inspectors said catheter bags were found touching the floor, putting patients at risk of urinary tract infections, and that a frail elderly patient was in urine soaked sheets unable to reach a call bell.

Some Southend medical staff did not have “the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep patients safe from avoidable harm”, the previous report said.

However, after inspections during this summer, the CQC saw improvements in:

• Use of risk assessments
• Governance
• Nutrition and hydration
• Design and maintenance of equipment and an estate that kept people safe
• Helping patients to make informed decisions about their care
• Improved adherence to Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberties assessments

Hopkins, who took charge earlier this year at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, added: “These changes are having an impact and we were able to demonstrate our commitment to providing a quality, safe, effective, and caring service.”

The overall rating for the trust remains as requires improvement. BBC