The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today released a further report following an unannounced inspection of wards located in Medical Unit 2 at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) in August 2021. This report is the last part of the CQC hospital inspection report that was published in August 2021.
Following this inspection, the overall rating for medical care services at the RLI is rated as 'inadequate'. It is also rated as 'inadequate' for being responsive to people’s needs and for how well-led the service is. It is rated as 'requires improvement' for being safe, effective and caring. At the previous inspection in December 2018, the service was rated as 'good'.
This inspection did not change the overall rating for the RLI, which remains as 'requires improvement' nor the Trust rating which remains 'requires improvement'.
Jackie Bird, Interim Executive Chief Nurse, UHMBT, said: "We fully accept the findings of the report, which is the last part of the CQC Hospital Inspection Report that was published in August.
"We were aware of the issues within the wards inspected and had shared the improvements we were implementing and working on with the CQC during their inspection.
"We are grateful they have recognised the work being done and which has been undertaken since they inspected and have been continuing our work with the improvement team at NHS England/Improvement to improve the wards.
"We have already taken a number of actions, including moving one of the wards to new purpose-built facilities, enhancing the level of care offered to the patients. We are also pleased that the levels of care in those areas have already improved.
"There has been some really great work to improve the safety of patients, the care offered and the culture within the wards the CQC visited.
"We also want to pay tribute to our colleagues working in the areas inspected who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and now are continuing to improve the care offered."
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Notes to editors
The improvement work undertaken so far includes:
• Additional building work on the existing wards in Medical Unit 2 is taking place to enhance the accommodation.
• Improving the care offered to patients by employing two new doctors, two new physiotherapists and a new advanced nurse practitioner
• Continuing to ensure every patient is reviewed three times per day with a view to discharging patients quickly
• Escalating patients ready to leave our care with senior teams to ensure their care is transferred as quickly as possible.