FOLLOW-UP CQC SPOTCHECK CONFIRMS IMPROVEMENTS AT BASILDON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Hygiene standards are being met at Basildon University Hospital according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This followed their return visit to carry out an unannounced spotcheck in the A&E Department and Medical Admissions Unit.

“We very much regret the unacceptable conditions that the CQC team found when they inspected A&E in October. We took immediate remedial action during the visit and instigated a series of actions in response to their feedback”, said Alan Whittle, Chief Executive. “We are pleased they have been able to report positively on the improvements that they saw on their second visit.”

The CQC confirmed that the trust has:
- carried out cleaning audits and made sure the cleaning contractor is alerted to any problems
- allocated additional cleaners to the A&E department to ensure cleaning staff are available at all times
- introduced systems to ensure patient areas are cleaned after each use
- made sure patient trolleys are clean and uncluttered
- replaced procedure trays used by staff to carry equipment when they take blood samples or give injections - these are now disposable
- replaced all trolley mattresses in A&E. (Trolley mattresses across the whole trust have also been checked and replaced where appropriate.)
- ensured single-use items are in date and with packaging intact
- taken action to repair damage to doors, doorframes and chairs
- increased frequency of audits to ensure policies and practices are being followed.

In November 2009, Monitor, the Foundation Trust regulator told the Trust Board it wanted it to see more rapid results in quality improvements. To address this:

1. A Quality Improvement Programme had been developed jointly with NHS South West Essex so that we could jointly address the issue of the Dr Foster Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR).
2. It was agreed with Monitor that we would commission PricewaterhouseCoopers to set up a Programme Management Office (PMO) in the Trust to help drive the work forward more quickly.
3. In addition, the Medical Director from Guy's and St Thomas and the Chief Nurse from University College London Hospitals have been asked to provide independent clinical advice and mentorship to the Hospital's Medical Director and Director of Nursing.

The Hospital states: "We hope that patients and all local residents will be reassured by the latest inspection, which confirms that Basildon University Hospital is meeting hygiene and infection control standards. This is further demonstrated by the fact that we have had only one case of MRSA bloodstream infection acquired in the hospital to date this year.”

Thurrock Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee are meeting with the Hospital this evening to obtain formal feedback to the concerns of residents. I'll be attending the meeting and feedback any outcomes.