Watchdog concerned by staff shortages in A&E

INSPECTORS have raised concerns about staff shortages in another accident and emergency unit in Yorkshire.

Officials from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) uncovered staffing problems in casualty at Scarborough Hospital in a routine check of services in July.

They said some people did not receive appropriate care and treatment in A&E when demand was significantly higher than anticipated.

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They found measures taken by senior managers when shortfalls were highlighted by nursing staff were not effective, hitting patient care.

Inspectors said they found the A&E unit to be “extremely busy” as it dealt with surge in demand 12 per cent above expected levels. They said ambulance crews were waiting to hand people over into the care of nurses, which paramedics said was not unusual.

The CQC report said: “Staff were struggling to ensure people’s needs were met.

“Staff were busy and were doing their best but it was clear that the department was too busy for them to be able to manage the volume of people, provide basic needs and be proactive.”

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Patients told them staff were generally doing a good job in difficult circumstances but a number of people complained they had not received pain relief despite repeated requests.

They also found “poor standards of cleanliness” in A&E, with staff failing to adhere to infection control procedures.

Inspectors said overall staffing in the hospital did meet required standards but arrangements in A&E “would benefit from review”.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Scarborough hospital, said CQC inspectors had made favourable comments about services across its sites which they visited both in Scarborough and York.

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“However they did find problems in the emergency department at Scarborough, and whilst the CQC acknowledged that it was exceptionally busy during their inspection, as a trust we recognise that there are things we must improve to ensure the best experience for patients,” said a spokesman.

“Some areas, particularly related to cleaning, have already been improved. We continue to liaise with the CQC on further actions to ameliorate the concerns raised.”