Royal Bournemouth meets CQC standards on dignity and nutrition

The regulator checked two “essential standards” of care during an inspection at the trust’s Royal Bournemouth Hospital on 19 April.

Inspectors observed how people were being cared for, talked with patients, talked with staff, and checked records.

The standards assessed were:

• People should be treated with respect, involved in discussions about their care and treatment and able to influence how the service is run
• Food and drink should meet people’s individual dietary needs

It concluded that overall the Royal Bournemouth Hospital was meeting both essential standards.

In its report, the regulator said: “Most patients and their relatives told us that they were satisfied with the care and treatment they received at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. They said they had been treated with courtesy and respect and that their privacy and dignity had been well protected. They said they were given clear information and had been involved in decisions about their care and rehabilitation.

“One relative had some concerns about their involvement in information sharing and four people we spoke with said that they thought there could be improvement in staff responding to call bells.”

It added: “Patients and their families told us they felt their nutritional needs and dietary preferences were well met. They gave positive feedback about the quality, range and availability of food. People who required assistance with eating or drinking were complimentary about the way staff supported them.”

The regulator visited 100 hospitals as part of its programme of inspections on older patients’ treatment and is currently publishing them in batches, of which this is the fourth.