In September 2015, the CQC rated the hospitals ‘inadequate’ overall when specific concerns were identified in surgery, maternity and gynaecology and outpatients and diagnostic imaging during their inspection in April 2015.
The hospitals were criticised for a lack of robustness in the systems and processes supporting quality and risk management, a perceived ‘disconnect’ between staff and senior management teams within divisions, as well as the executive team and Board, lengthy outpatients waiting times, unsafe levels of nitrous oxide in delivery suites and inadequate medicines management.
Professor Sir Mike Richards, said:“We found improvement in each area we inspected compared to our previous inspection in April 2015. This inspection was to gain assurance that Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had taken action to address our most serious concerns identified at our inspection of April 2015; and was not to determine if the Trust should be removed from special measures. A full follow up inspection has been announced for September 2016.”
The inspection covered all key questions in maternity and gynaecology, outpatients and diagnostic imaging and the responsive question only in surgery.
Jane Ramsey, CUH Chair, said: “I would like to thank the many staff who have contributed to the improvement in our services for our patients. We are determined that this improvement will continue over the coming months and we look forward to the full re-inspection of our services by the CQC in the autumn.”
Roland Sinker, CUH chief executive, said: “I am delighted that the CQC has recognised the improvements made since September 2015 in the areas that were rated as ‘inadequate’. I would like to thank our staff and partners for their hard work and support. Despite our good progress so far, we recognise that this improvement is the first step in a much longer journey for the Trust. We will keep our focus on delivering our improvement plan and delivering the longer term improvements in our culture and governance arrangements. The Trust still has a long way to go, but we are proud of what has been achieved in a short time. We look forward to welcoming our CQC colleagues for a full re-inspection in September.”
The inspectors identified improvements in each area compared to the previous inspection in April 2015, with a particular focus on leadership and safety, including:
- Nitrous oxide scavenging systems had been installed and monitoring had shown them to be effective at reducing environmental nitrous oxide. Other equipment within the maternity unit was all serviced and had been appropriately maintained.
- There had been a review of midwifery staffing which had led to an increase of nine midwives and six health care support workers in the unit.
- Governance in maternity had improved with clear view of the unit’s risks and key performance data now being collected.
- The outpatients department had risk assessed and reviewed all patients records with an outstanding appointment to ensure patients were seen in a timely way based on relative clinical risk.
- There was a general improvement in referral to treatment times (RTT) and against other waiting time standards.
- New leadership within the outpatients department had a clear view of the risks within the department and a strategy for addressing these.
- A new governance and management structure gave full oversight of the Trust’s improvement plan.
- Although there was on-going cancelled surgery the number was on a downward trajectory and represented improved performance since the last inspection in April 2015.
About Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH)
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) is one of the largest and best known hospitals in the country. As well as delivering care to local people through Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, it is also:
•a leading national centre for specialist treatment for rare or complex conditions
•a government-designated biomedical research centre
•one of only five academic health science centres in the UK
•a university teaching hospital with a worldwide reputation
•a partner in the development of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus
CUH’s vision is to be one of the best academic healthcare organisations in the world.
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