Stoke hospital must report to CQC amid A&E concerns

A hospital has been ordered to report weekly to a health watchdog after inspectors raised concerns about patients detained under the Mental Health Act and assessment times in A&E.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Royal Stoke University Hospital in June, although its findings are yet to be published.

CQC concern has instead emerged in a report by the hospital's trust.

It said the trust was "disappointed" given its "achievements".

The University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust presented its account of the CQC's assessment to the board on Wednesday.

Worries about detained patients centred on the protection of their rights.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the meeting heard concerns about compliance with the Mental Health Act relating to a patient who had not had appropriate paperwork completed.

On criticism of the time taken for patients to be clinically assessed in the emergency department, board chairman David Wakefield asked whether patients were safe and was told they were.

The report said the trust was committed to working with the CQC to give it assurance in these "important areas".

Inspectors also looked at maternity and outpatients services.

In maternity, the report said, the CQC was "impressed" with systems and saw positive culture, but said there was not capacity to meet increasing demand for elective C-sections and pain scores were not always documented.

In outpatients, it said patient care was good but recording of training and appraisals did not reflect corporate figures.

The visit also highlighted "many areas of good practice", according to the trust.

The CQC is set to publish a formal report on its findings along with a rating for UHNM.

Ahead of publication, Professor Ted Baker, CQC's chief inspector of hospitals, said the visit had identified concerns regarding patient safety.

"We have now taken urgent enforcement action at the trust to ensure people get the care and treatment they should be able to expect," he said.

"We will provide further information when the legal process allows."

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