North East hospice rated inadequate and told to improve

A Bishop Auckland hospice has been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and told to improve to ensure “safe patient care”.

 

The health watchdog gave the rating to Butterwick Hospice after it found some staff were not properly trained.

 

The inspection at the hospice, which provides adult hospice services, including neurological and palliative day carte as well as a home care service, found staff were “caring and compassionate”.  However, the inspection also found “policies to ensure the safe and effective running of the service either lacked detail or were non-existent”.

 

The report added “We found staff were giving medicine to patients in their own homes without the necessary training which could put people at risk.”

 

Commenting on the inspection findings, Paul Bury, chairman of Butterwick Hospice Care, said “The inspection in February highlighted a number of issues with our palliative homecare service.

 

“We immediately paused the service, created an action plan, redeveloped the service and trained staff.

 

“Although we were disappointed with the CQC’s initial findings, we are confident that the service that we relaunched in April meets the requirements of the CQC, and the needs of our community.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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