Poor care standards lead to ward closure at Pinderfields Hospital

Bosses at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust have temporarily closed Gate 43, a 41-bed elderly medicine ward at the hospital.

Chief nurse Sally Napper said the ward was closed to new admissions on March 31, and patients were being transferred to 30 new beds which were being opened at Pinderfields.

She said: “We have not taken this decision lightly but there are a number of issues affecting Gate 43.

“These include low staffing levels and the quality of care on some occasions has not met the standards we would expect.

“I would like to apologise to any patients and families who have experienced sub-standard care on this ward.”

Last September the Care Quality Commission issued Mid Yorkshire with a warning notice after inspectors found that elderly patients at suffered falls, pressure sores and infections because there were not enough nurses to care for them.

But a follow-up inspection by the CQC in November found that improvements had been made.

Gate 43 is now expected to be closed for up to eight weeks, Mid Yorkshire said today.

Said patients with concerns about their treatment on the ward are being asked to contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 01924 543907 or by e-mail to [email protected]