Inspection finds Mid and South Essex NHS trust services 'needs improvement'
The Care Quality Commission have published their review into the various services provided by the trust
The Care Quality Commission has found some services provided at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust need improvement.
The inspection into the maternity, surgical, medical and emergency departments at the various hospitals under the trust's management was conducted to follow-up on concerns about the quality of care people were receiving.
Philippa Styles, the Head of the Commission, says: "Our inspection of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust found a mixed picture with areas where positive improvements had been made, but also areas where concerns were found.
"I recognise the enormous pressure NHS services are under across the country and that usual expectations cannot always be maintained, especially in the urgent and emergency department, but it is important they do all they can to mitigate risks to patient safety while facing these pressures."
The trust was rated as 'good' for being effective and caring and 'requires improvement' for being safe and responsive. For the first time inspectors have rated leadership at the trust, which was also given a rating of 'requires improvement'.
Ms Styles says they were encouraged to see positive changes being made to improve experiences for women at Basildon University Hospital's maternity services. But they did not see the same influence at the maternity ward in Southend University Hospital, which they described as being continually short-staffed, which affected midwives’ ability to work effectively.
"The pandemic has been extremely challenging for urgent and emergency department staff, with many having low morale and being fearful to raise concerns. The leadership team were aware of this issue and had commissioned an external review of culture within the department", she adds.
Clare Panniker is the chief executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust: “We merged to become one of the largest Trusts in the country in the middle of a global pandemic, at the most challenging time the NHS has ever known. To be rated as Good for care and for providing effective services is a real achievement.”
On the issue of staffing, she adds: "We are fully aware of the key issues and are continuing to address these. On-going staffing issues have a significant impact and we’re working tirelessly to increase permanent staffing levels.
“We know that some of the issues we are addressing can’t be fixed overnight, or in isolation, but we are an improving organisation and are working as a healthcare system committed to providing the very best services to the community that we serve.”