THE trust running Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre has been told it must make urgent changes following yet another damning report from a health watchdog.

England's chief inspector of hospitals has told Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust that it must make urgent improvements to the quality of healthcare following an unannounced Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in April.

Inspectors visited the the hospital, as well as Redditch's Alexandra Hospital, and Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

They looked at areas of previous concern in the emergency department, medical care, surgery, maternity and gynaecology, children and young people and the minor injuries unit at Kidderminster.

Inspectors found there had been no tangible improvement in performance since the previous inspection in November and December last year.

They said staff caring for patients in the corridors in the emergency department had become standard practice, and patient’s privacy, dignity and effective care remained compromised.

The trust’s chief executive, Michelle McKay admitted they have continued to let down patients, families, and carers, but said they are working hard to address concerns.

Following this inspection the CQC issued a Warning Notice requiring the trust to take action.

Professor Ted Baker, chief inspector of hospitals, said: “Over the last two years Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has been subject to rigorous and frequent regulatory action.

“I remain concerned that the trust has not taken sufficient action to address the requirements of our previous inspections, and patients using services continue to experience a poor level of care.

“In our recent inspections we have found there was little effective ownership of the need to establish systems to assess quality of services or to recognise, assess and mitigate risks to patient safety.

“The new executive team are recently established and are aware they face significant challenges. It is important that they drive the necessary improvements to the safety and quality of patient care, with continued support from NHS Improvement and others."

Inspectors found staff were hard-working, passionate and caring, however, many were frustrated that they were not able to effect change due to poor communication between ward, divisional and executive levels.

Michelle McKay, said: "We are disappointed with, but fully accept, the shortfalls the Care Quality Commission has identified in their focused inspection in April.

"I am sorry the trust did not make all the necessary improvements in that period and have continued to let down our patients, their families and carers by not meeting the quality standards they rightly expect.

"We want all our patients to get the best care possible and regret that this isn't always happening but we’re determined to put things right.”

The unannounced inspection was carried out on April 11 and 12.

The trust, which has been in special measures since December 2015, is currently rated as Inadequate overall.