Hospital improves rating but concerns remain

A hospital emergency department rated "inadequate" has made improvements, but more needs to be done, a health watchdog said.

Hull Royal Infirmary has now been graded as "requires improvement" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

However, inspectors said there were "still some breaches relating to a safe environment, staffing, infection, prevention and control, medicines management, consent to care and treatment".

Lyn Simpson, chief executive of NHS Humber Health Partnership, said the trust was "very pleased to see that the CQC has acknowledged a number of improvements have been made".

Following its inspection in September, the CQC said that the rating for caring had "gone up from requires improvement to good".

Inspectors found that triaging of patients had improved and complaints were handled better.

However, concerns were raised about staffing levels, the system used for prescribing medicines and cleanliness in the department.

Karen Knapton, CQC deputy director of operations for the north, said it was "positive to see that some improvements had been made" but added that "more work was needed across the department to improve the standard of care people were receiving".

Ms Knapton said that changes in leadership "were driving improvements".

"Most people and their families were positive about the care they received from staff and felt that they were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff also communicated well with people so that they understood their care and treatment plans," she said.

"Whilst the trust has made some improvements, they have more work to do to ensure people receive safe and effective care."

Ms Simpson added: "We know that there are still areas where we need to improve and we will work with the team to address these."

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