Action call as health trusts told to improve

THREE NHS trusts in Yorkshire have been ordered to make urgent improvements by the healthcare regulator

Ambulance chiefs have been instructed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to speed up 999 response times in the region.

Bosses at the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby have also been ordered to act after the regulator discovered some patients admitted by ambulance were being forced to wait in corridors before being assessed.

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Further concerns are also expressed about the troubled Scarborough hospital trust, which has been told to speed up safety assessments of its buildings in Scarborough and Bridlington and tackle shortages of doctors at the two hospitals.

The group are among 12 nationally facing conditions as part of a tougher system of legally enforceable licences for NHS trusts to operate services.

CQC spokesman Sue McMillan said they were concerned the Scarborough trust was not acting fast enough.

"We also expect the trust to address concerns about staffing levels. We are concerned that necessary improvements to staffing numbers and the skills mix will not be made quickly enough," she added.

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The CQC said the ambulance service needed to do more to improve 999 response times after consistently failing to meet Government targets and has until October to meet national standards.

At the North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS trust, the regulator said it uncovered concerns following an unannounced inspection in January including some around patient safety in the A&E unit in Grimsby.

If trusts fail to meet standards, the CQC has stronger enforcement powers than before, including being able to give warning notices and fines. It can also prosecute, close them down or restrict their activities.