CQC finds poorly staffed wards at Wirral hospital

The CQC carried out an unannounced evening inspection of the hospital in May after concerns were raised about the trust’s use of escalation wards during peak demand, as well as concerns around poor facilities and safe staffing levels.

During the inspection at Arrowe Park Hospital, the CQC visited a theatre recovery area medical assessment unit, surgical assessment unit, a special escalation ward and two other wards.

In the theatre recovery area patients were kept in a theatre recovery area with six beds but without call bells, patient lockers, toilets or showers. 

The CQC said it found systems and processes were not always being followed and that there were inappropriate skill mixes and staffing levels that were not addressed quickly.

In its inspection report the CQC cited safe staffing guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which said harm could occur where nurse to patient ratios exceeded more than 1:8.

The report said: “Nurse staffing levels and skills mix in some of the wards we visited were varied. There were occasions when the wards were not suitably staffed to meet the care needs of patients in a timely way.

“The trust was taking action to address the nurse vacancy rate, but it remained evident that the wards were not always appropriately staffed.”

The trust was previously told to improve staffing following the CQC’s last routine inspection in September last year.

Inspectors said the systems to manage risks during periods of demand and use of extra wards was not robust and some areas were inappropriate.

The report cited examples of toilets being out of order and not repaired for a number of days.

It described the medical assessment unit as “cramped”, adding: “The bays did not have doors on them which meant that privacy between male and female patients was not always maintained.

“The recovery area contained six beds for patients recovering from surgery. This area did not have necessary facilities such as patient lockers, call bells, toilets or showers. One toilet was available for patients use with access through the main theatre entrance door.”

Trust chief executive David Allison said: “Although naturally disappointed at the outcome from this unannounced CQC inspection, the trust was already progressing well with plans to increase nurse staffing as demonstrated by an additional investment of £1.2m earlier this year.

“I would like to reassure the public first and foremost that patient safety and quality of care is paramount to us.

“Over 50 registered nurses will be joining us from next month with further recruitment planned for late autumn. We have also reviewed extensively our escalation policy to ensure that our hospitals are safe during increased levels of demand as seen over the last few months.”