Blackpool Victoria Hospital urgent care services still require improvement
CQC highlights staffing and privacy issues in recent inspection
Blackpool Victoria Hospital's urgent and emergency care services have been rated as requiring improvement despite notable advances, according to the latest assessment by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Operated by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the hospital saw its safety and responsiveness ratings move from inadequate to requires improvement. However, ongoing concerns about staffing levels and privacy issues remain as obstacles.
Gill Hodgson-Reilly, CQC deputy director of hospitals in the north-west, addressed the findings:
“When we inspected urgent and emergency care at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, we were pleased to see the trust had been working hard to make some improvements since the last inspection."
The inspection conducted from the 24th to 26th November noted improved leadership and increased visibility, alongside national recognition in the Health Service Journal’s patient safety awards for some of the hospital's achievements.
Despite these improvements, the CQC pointed out the persistent lack of qualified staff to maintain safety standards, although hospital leaders are reportedly aware and planning solutions.
Positive improvements include enhanced teamwork across services, reduced waiting times in emergency departments for patients requiring ward admissions, and improved patient care continuity enabling timely decision-making.
However, challenges remain, such as effectively communicating treatment and care steps and ensuring patient privacy, as some care processes are conducted in corridor areas.
These ongoing issues have been shared with the trust as areas needing attention.