By Gillian Ellison

Published at 11:11, Thursday, 24 May 2012

A HOSPITALS’ watchdog is looking into safety concerns highlighted by staff at West Cumberland Hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary.

Copeland MP Jamie Reed says the health secretary Andrew Lansley “must intervene” and Save Our Services spokesman, the Rev John Bannister, says reducing beds is bound to increase pressure on the hospitals.

It follows staff concerns over a two-week period last month as part of weekly monitoring of incidents.

These are said to have included an incident where a patient’s oxygen was mistakenly turned off and another where urgent scan results – showing a patient required emergency surgery – were not passed on to medical teams.

Staff also reported concerns that A&E departments were unsafe due to lack of beds and staff.

The Care Quality Commission – which checks hospitals in England to ensure they are meeting government standards – said it is aware of the issues highlighted and is considering evidence.

“We are in talks with the trust and other regulators and if we find evidence at any point that patients could be at risk of harm we would take swift and immediate action. The Royal College of Nursing is currently reviewing staffing levels at the trust and we will be considering that information when it is available,” said the watch.

Mr Reed, Labour’s shadow health minister, has written to the health secretary and describes the North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust – which runs both hospitals – as being “in chaos”.

He said: “The examples of poor care that have been revealed are absolutely unacceptable and they cannot be tolerated any longer.

“Anyone using our hospital services has the absolute right to expect that they are receiving the best available care, but anyone who has used these services recently – as I have – knows that it is only the dedication and expertise of front-line professionals that is holding the system together.

“We have seen this in other parts of the country at other hospital trusts and we know how this ends unless urgent interventions are made now,” he added.

Mr Bannister said: “The SOS group has, repeatedly, expressed concern over the past year on the pressure on A&E departments at both hospitals since the introduction of the Closer to Home strategy, which does not appear to have reduced the demand on hospital beds.

“Whenever bed numbers are reduced then so are staffing numbers.”

The confidential information was part of the Trust’s weekly reporting of incidents. The Trust says the weekly report ensures that lessons can be shared across wards and departments and encourages “an open and transparent patient safety culture for the reporting of incidents and near misses”.

A spokeswoman said: “The Trust has a robust system for monitoring incidents and investigating them thoroughly, this includes a weekly review by the director of nursing, medical director and director of governance to ensure incident trends or incidents which have resulted in a high impact or adverse outcome are immediately reviewed.

“In line with all other NHS Trusts, we will continue to encourage open and transparent reporting of incidents across the Trust.”

Christine Wharrier, Unison representative at West Cumberland Hospital, said: “Until the trust managers accept there are serious concerns and do not try to whitewash them, things will not improve.

“Unfortunately things are monitored from a distance, and cost cutting on frontline staff increases the pressure.”

The hospitals’ trust is in the process of being taken over by Northumbria Healthcare later this year due to long-running financial problems.

Cumbria LINk – a local health watchdog – is asking people to come forward and tell them about their experiences of health and social care services in the county.

Contact Cumbria CVS, 27 Spencer Street, Carlisle, CA1 1BE; telephone 01228 512513 or go to: www.cumbrialink.org.uk/haveyoursay

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk