Cumbria hospitals must take 'rapid' action on patient safety

Two hospitals in Cumbria must take "rapid" action "to keep people safe", the health watchdog has announced.

There had been "escalating" concerns about Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said.

North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) has been issued with a warning.

The trust, which was already rated as requiring improvement, admitted the pace of change had been "too slow". The warning notice requires the organisation "to take action to minimise the risk of patients being exposed to harm".

During checks in August and September, inspectors found:

• Emergency department patients "were not always receiving timely and appropriate" treatment
• Significant delays in admitting people to wards
• "Insufficient numbers" of qualified, competent and experienced staff

Professor Ted Baker, chief inspector of hospitals, said "rapid improvements" were needed.

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Source: BBC News, 27 November 2020