Patients harmed by delays at special measures trust

Following the inspection at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust in September and October last year, the CQC has lowered the trust’s rating in its safety domain from “requires improvement” to “inadequate”. It warned there were insufficient numbers of staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience to “keep patients safe from avoidable harm”.

The report noted the trust had identified incidents in 2018 and 2019 where patients had come to harm due to delays in receiving appointments in outpatients, particularly in ophthalmology. Ten patients were found to have come to low harm, one patient moderate harm and two patients severe harm.

Concerns were also raised about whether patients with mental health conditions were cared for in a safe environment. The mental health assessment room’s design — which had been raised as an issue at a previous inspection — was found again to not meet national requirements. 

The trust has retained its “requires improvement” overall rating and remains in special measures. It was also rated “requires improvement” for effective and responsive and “good” for caring.

Ann Ford, the CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals, said: “Our inspection found improvements were needed across the trust, notably in relation to the safety of services. This is something that the trust must address swiftly.

“We were also concerned to find that patients at the end of their lives were not always treated with compassion, kindness and respect and staff did not always take account of people’s individual needs.

“We are aware that the trust has faced a number of challenges over a number of years but we found a number of areas where improvements had been made and a strengthening of the leadership team begun to have a positive impact.”

Trust chief executive Peter Reading said: “Retaining our “requires improvement” rating shows the changes we are making are being maintained, giving us a strong base to build on. The report also show we still have a huge amount to do to get better, day in and day out. We are working hard to make sure that happens.”

“We have tackled the radiology reporting backlog which has reduced by 8,000 and created more scanning capacity with an additional CT scanner opening last April at Scunthorpe,” Dr Reading said. “Next week building work starts on a new suite at Grimsby to house two MRI scanners.”

“On end of life care we have introduced new leadership arrangements and have a new team in place. Caring for those patients nearing the end of their life is a key priority for the trust,” he added.

*This article was amended at 10:45 on 7 February 2020 to reflect the trust’s “good” rating for caring

* And amended at 12.20 on 7 February 2020 to reflect the trust’s response to the CQC’s findings