Agenda item

Includes the summary of findings following the Care Quality Commission's inspection of St Bartholomew's Hospital in May 2017. The full report including detailed findings is available on request.

The Committee received a report of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following their inspection of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in May 2017. The Committee welcomed the Director of Nursing at St Bartholomew’s to the meeting and invited her to introduce the report.

Members were advised that the hospital had changed significantly since its previous inspection in 2013, having undergone a merger of cardiovascular services in April 2015, and much building redevelopment that was completed in October 2016. The hospital had around 450 beds, a respiratory ward and a specialist endocrinology unit, employing around 1200 staff including 870 nurses, following recent recruitment campaigns. This was the hospital’s first inspection in their new remit as a specialist hospital for cancer and cardio services.

The Committee noted that the CQC’s framework was designed for inspecting General Hospitals. Four core services of the hospital were marked against five indicators: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Each of the core services was rated as good. The hospital was pleased with the outcomes but had taken note of the recommendations for improvement they had received, and were putting action plans in place to make the required improvements. Progress over the last 2 years was pleasing and the hospital’s target was an outstanding rating in their next inspection.

In response to a question from a Member about the impact of the UK leaving the European Union on staffing, the Director told the Committee that there would not be a huge impact but it was something that would need looking at. The hospital’s reputation was improving which made it easier to retain more high-quality nurses. The hospital had recruited many nurses from the Philippines over the last 18 months. Whilst this was expensive as they required training and assessment, these nurses tended to stay long-term and were of a high standard. Recruiting British nurses had become more difficult in recent years nationally, but the hospital was working on ways to combat this.

The Committee voiced their disappointment that parts of the CQC report did not comply with RNBI type standards, as the grey colour and size of the type was difficult to read, and asked officers to communicate this to the CQC.

In response to a question from Members, the Director told the Committee was generally good at treating sepsis and mortality was very low. The hospital was working hard on its implementation and monitoring of the sepsis six programme, and on improving their ‘did not attend’ rate.

The Committee thanked the Director for coming to the meeting and congratulated them on their positive inspection results.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.