Hospital inspections ‘not frequent enough’

By Charlotte Prentice

Hygiene standards at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary are to be independently reviewed in January, the NHS trust has revealved.

But subsequent inspections will only be conducted every three years – news, which has been condemned by the UK’s main patients pressure group.

It seems although there is an abundance of investigations showing a decline in patient care, MRSA and CDiff outbreaks, the NHS is still failing to meet basic needs.

A recent report into the hygiene and standards of a hospital in Essex sparks off concern for NHS’s reputation, where investigators found awful circumstances, such as blood spattered curtains, trays and stained mattresses.

A spokesperson for NHS Lothian trust told edinburghnapiernews about the regulation of our hospitals, she said:

“The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary isn’t scheduled until  January and then after that once every three years.”

Hospitals are subject to regular spot-check visits from the NHS trust.

The Patients Association, which is an independent charity that highlights the concerns and needs of patients, is critical of the proposed inspection schedule for ERI.

A spokesman said: “It doesn’t seem likely that visits every 3 years will be enough to ensure standards are being met.

“We believe hospitals should be inspected as often as possible, ideally once a year. What we’ve heard both today and in recent months about infection control across the NHS is that there is a long way to go in many places. We hear stories from patients that are very worrying.

“Lack of help with toiletting care is a common feature and that obviously is important for infection control. We would always encourage patients and relatives who have witnessed poor care to get in touch with the Patients Association.”

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) which is a public body set up to regulate healthcare, claims that the spot-checks of the NHS trust are “good” but inspectors found a number of problems in Essex shortly after the positive rating was uploaded onto their website.

Barbara Young, who chairs the CQC said on BBC radio this morning, “The old system is being steadily renewed,” She commented,  “I do hope that we are not going to be diverted into blaming the regulator rather than focussing on hospital management that needs to get a grip on its quality.”