Health watchdog gives its verdict after inspections at Dewsbury and District Hospital

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today published the findings of two unannounced visits made in February.

It found all but one of 16 standards for care and staffing were being met by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust.

The report said: “This inspection was carried out as a result of concerns raised with us anonymously about the staffing arrangements and the operation of an escalation ward used [when] the hospital had insufficient bed space as a result of winter pressures.”

It said shortfalls were found with auditing and governance on Ward Nine during the first visit.

There was evidence of insufficient and inconsistent staffing, and lack of leadership and management.

But inspectors returned a week later, they found the Trust had taken “swift action” to address the shortfalls.

Trust interim chief executive Stephen Eames said: “We took the feedback from the CQC’s inspection very seriously and immediately put in place a range of actions to make the necessary improvements. I’m pleased that as a result of the swift and robust actions we took that we addressed the majority of the CQC’s concerns.”

The CQC has asked the Trust to give regular update on the ward’s management to make sure the improvements are maintained.

During the visits, inspectors also spoke to patients about their experiences.

They said staff on the ward had been “brilliant” and “very good”.

Mr Eames said: “I’m pleased that despite some of the organisational issues the CQC identified, the patients on the ward were complimentary about their care and treatment which is testimony to the hard work and dedication of our staff.”