HEALTH inspectors have given feedback following a review of the safety and quality of clinical services at Kidderminster, the Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals.

A team of 16 inspectors from West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA), the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and NHS Worcestershire spent a day at all three sites on June 9 as part of the trust’s aspirant Foundation Trust process.

They assessed patient experience and paid particular attention to the issues highlighted in the nutrition and dignity report recently published by the CQC.

In his letter to John Rostill, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Peter Blythin, director of nursing and workforce at West Midlands SHA said: “At the outset we would wish to make clear that no significant concerns or immediate patient safety risks were highlighted during the visit. In fact the team observed a range of good practice and found staff engaged.

“They should be congratulated on their commitment to both the trust and to the delivery of good patient care. In summary, from a quality and patient safety/experience perspective, we found nothing to prevent the trust moving forward as an aspirant foundation trust.”

But the team did highlight several areas that the trust needs to focus on. These included: •Looking at how the patient experience for people with learning disabilities can be improved.

•Ensuring continued improvement in terms of reducing healthcare acquired infections.

•62 day cancer waits and A&E waits.

•Ensuring the board is looking at the right metrics in relation to patient care.

• Improving communication between the stroke teams on each site to ensure continued improvements to the service.

Eamonn Kelly, chief executive of NHS Worcestershire which commissions hospital services from the trust, said: “We are pleased that the feedback from the quality assurance visit feedback was positive and in particular that the issues identified by the recent CQC report are being addressed.

“The trust should be congratulated on its prompt and effective response to the concerns initially identified and for the improvements that are starting to become evident in important areas such as stroke care services.”

Harry Turner, chairman of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Obviously we are pleased with the feedback from the quality review visit and it is a welcome shift from the disappointing CQC report. We have noted the areas we need to focus on and will be following those up with immediate effect.”

The findings from the quality review visit will be presented to the board at its public meeting on Thursday, June 30. The independent review which was commissioned following the CQC report will also report back to the board on the same day.