The trust that runs Huddersfield and Calderdale hospitals has been told it needs to improve.
A report by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission has been published today into how the trust runs both hospitals.
And and it has identified a list of departments where improvements are needed - including A&E at both Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital.
Safety, effectiveness and leadership all require improvement - but the trust has been rated good for caring and responsive services.
It has now been given a tick list of areas of concern that must be addressed.
At the top of the list is ensuring there are enough skilled, qualified and experienced staff on shift at all times.
All staff must be properly trained, decide whether a child can consent to medical treatment and be aware of female genital mutilation and what to do if it is spotted.
Learning from avoidable deaths, making sure controlled drugs are stored and administered properly and risk assessments for pressure sores and mobility all need attention.
More work is needed on patient experience within maternity services, making sure women feel supported and involved in their care; and on reducing the number of third and fourth degree tears in an assisted birth.
Reviews of critical care, paediatric assessment at HRI and the need for a second emergency obstetric theatre must be carried out.
The report also highlighted areas of outstanding practice, including:
- Outpatient care
- Caring for patients with dementia or delerium
- Work with A Level students
- Identifying and caring for deteriorating patients
- Discharge co-ordination
- Multi-agency working within community services
- Lower radiation doses in the diagnostic imaging department
- Estates and facilities team considering patient care experience
Penny Woodhead, Head of Quality and Safety for NHS Calderdale CCG and Greater Huddersfield CCG, said: “Both CCGs have been working closely with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust to support their improvement journey and so we welcome the findings of this important external review undertaken by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
“It is pleasing to see a number of services highlighted in the report as good but we also recognise and fully accept the overall judgement by the CQC that the Trust requires improvement.
“We will carefully review the CQC findings in detail, along with the action plan which the trust is putting in place to ensure that the recommended changes are implemented rapidly and in full.
“Today’s CQC report re-emphasises the need for change.
“We believe that the proposals we outlined in our Right Care, Right Time, Right Place consultation will better enable us to deliver safe high quality care for all our patients.
“It is in all of our interests to ensure that we have safe, high quality hospital services and we are committed to supporting and encouraging CHFT’s senior management team and clinical staff over the coming months.”
COMING SOON: Full analysis of CQC report's findings about our hospitals
