West Yorkshire hospital trust '˜must improve' amid A&E staffing issues

Staffing shortages in A&E departments, a lack of cover for children's specialists and poor complaint handling have been reported at a West Yorkshire hospital trust.
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Inspectors from watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have told Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) to improve after uncovering a series of issues at hospitals in Halifax and Huddersfield.

The trust ‘requires improvement’ overall, with specific issues in how safe, effective and well-led its services are, although the organisation was rated ‘good’ for its care and its responsiveness.

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The findings come amid ongoing uncertainty over the future of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary’s (HRI) A&E unit after NHS clinical commissioning groups for Greater Huddersfield and Calderdale drew up plans to close it.

Campaigners from the Hands Off HRI group are hoping to derail the closure proposals under the ‘Right Care Right Time Right Place’ plan, which could centralise emergency care at Calderdale Royal Hospital.

The CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals in the north Ellen Armistead said: “Our inspection has found variation in the quality of the services provided by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.”

She said that despite medical staffing numbers in A&E across both the trust’s hospitals not meeting national guidance, its emergency care was rated good. Critical care and children’s and young people’s services at both hospitals require improvement.

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The CQC found a lack of paediatric cover at HRI, while complaints were only responded to on time in 48 per cent of cases.

It also highlighted some areas of outstanding practice, such as its technology that highlights when patients are deteriorating and “seamless” integrated working in the local community.

Owen Williams, chief executive of CHFT, said more than 70 per cent of its services received a good rating.

He added: “Alongside the important work of improvement we will continue to deliver in the areas reported as outstanding and good which make such a difference to the people we serve.”