CQC Confirms Inadequate Rating Following Inspection

Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust has been placed in special measures after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) led to the service being rated inadequate.

In a statement, the healthcare regulator confirmed that the rating of inadequate related to whether services were safe, caring and well-led, while a rating of ‘Requires Improvement’ was handed down regarding the effectiveness and responsiveness of services.

Specific concerns were highlighted in relation to accident and emergency support and medical care, while critical care, outpatients and maternity were judged as good.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, the chief inspector of hospitals for the CQC, said the trust development authority had been informed of the breaches and is now monitoring progress in relation to the special measures action plan.

He added that it was the first that the CQC had rated a trust as inadequate for ‘caring’.

News of the CQC inspection came following the news that Circle Holdings is looking to withdraw from its contract to operate Hinchingbrooke Hospital, with the organisation’s involvement in the site being described as “unsustainable” by Circle chief executive Steve Melton.

Expert Opinion

It is incredibly worrying to see the findings of the CQC report into Hinchingbrooke and it is clear that urgent steps are needed to review and ultimately improve the quality of care available to patients at the hospital. <br/> <br/>"What the CQC report confirms – as debate around the management of the hospital continues – is that a clear emphasis needs to be placed on patient safety and ensuring high quality treatment and care is provided. <br/> <br/>"Patients, their loved ones and the community in this area as a whole will be desperate for clarity regarding not only the hospital’s future but also that they have access to safe and comprehensive treatment." Guy Forster - Partner