THE Trust responsible for health services in Herefordshire has been placed in special measures.
It comes following a damning report published last week, in which Wye Valley NHS Trust was graded inadequate by the Care Quality Commission in three out of five criteria areas -safety, responsiveness and leadership.
The effectiveness of services ‘required improvement’ but the level of care from staff was marked as ‘good’.
In July the CQC inspected Hereford County Hospital and the four community hospitals including the one at Bromyard after the Trust was flagged as ‘high risk’.
The hospital itself was graded ‘inadequate’ with failings in areas including emergency services and medical care.
Community services were deemed to ‘require improvement’ but the Trust marked good in terms of care for children, young people and families.
Chief executive Richard Beeken said: “This is disappointing news for staff who regularly go the extra mile to ensure our patients receive the treatment they need, particularly during a period where we have seen a huge increase in demand on our services.
“We acknowledge the extraordinary commitment to patients they have shown during the ongoing pressure on services we have been experiencing. This is the solid foundation on which we will build our future.”
The Trust’s action plan to make the necessary improvements includes a proposed £1million investment into A&E as well as seven new nurses and an extra consultant.
Further injections include a £1.3million pledge for new stroke services and £500,000 for a new midwifery led unit.
Being placed in special measures means the Trust will have access to additional support.
Museji Ahmed Takolia CBE, chairman of the Trust said: “This extra support is good news for patients and good news for the Trust.”
He added talks had already taken place between Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS England and neighbouring Trusts to discuss future changes.
Reacting to the report Bill Wiggin, MP for North Herefordshire, said: “Any criticism of our local NHS is painful but we need our medical services to be scrutinised by doctors who know exactly what they are looking at.
“When those experts see things that can be improved, we must take those recommendations on board.
“People must not attack the NHS or defend it blindly. We need sensible steps to improve the medical care for patients, my constituents, which is long overdue and very welcome.”
