Care At Hospital Described As Very Poor For Vulnerable Patients

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) report has given Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth a formal warning for “very poor care” to vulnerable patients.

The report comes after an inspection in February which rated medical care as inadequate. Inspectors witnessed a patient being fed antibiotics in ice cream while others had medicines mixed in with their meals with no records to support it.

During the visit, inspectors also had to intervene to help a choking patient when two staff members failed to act. It is understood that during a follow-up inspection in May, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust had failed to deal with the inspectors' concerns. 

The NHS Trust has now been ordered to send regular updates to the CQC on its progress in improving standards.

Other issues identified include mental health patients absconding from units, chocking patients not dealt with and babies with bruises that were unexplained being set home. There were also issues with the way dementia patients were cared for. 

However, there were some positives in the report as previous problems with ambulances queuing to deliver patients had improved. The Trust’s chief executive said they would be publishing an action plan on how it would deliver better care.

Expert Opinion

“This report is shocking and unacceptable. The poor care has been going on for far too long and in certain situations patient safety is clearly at risk. The NHS is under immense pressure from various issues including funding, staffing and an ageing population but this doesn’t excuse staff not following guidelines for safe care.

“We see all too often the impact of medical negligence on patients and their families, which can be devastating and life-changing. It’s important that these issues are addressed as soon as possible to prevent further suffering to current patients and to prevent future people admitted from harm. Patient safety should be the number one priority.” Rebecca Brown - Senior Associate

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