WEST LANCASHIRE
19 May 2021
SKEM EXPRESS CARS 01695 50005 01695 722551 DOWNLOAD OUR APP Go to the App Store and search 'Skem Express Cars'
Vol 28 l Issue 20
www.champnews.com
Download • Register • Book / Or Pre-book in Advance • Track
It's that easy and takes less then a minute!
LOCAL BUSINESS
Supporting
Special Feature Inside
MP SLAMS HOSPITAL WATCHDOG FINDINGS Trust praised after inspection - but ‘serious incidents were brushed under the carpet’ claims Rosie Cooper HEALTH watchdog inspectors who turned up unannounced at Southport Hospital following concerns over medical care at the site flagged up by West Lancashire MP, Rosie Cooper, found there had been ‘significant improvement’ since their last visit. However, their findings were criticised by the MP who claims Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trust and the inspectors - the CQC - have ‘brushed under the carpet’ serious incidents which took place at the hospital. The Trust says it is ‘really pleased’ by the report’s findings but neighbouring West Lancs MP Rosie Cooper told the Champion she is ‘far from convinced’ after flagging up concerns brought to her by a whistleblower which ‘should make them deeply ashamed’. Ms Cooper contacted the CQC (Care Quality Commission) after the whistleblower told her that an elderly man had been discharged with ‘only a blanket’ wrapped around his lower half, as well as issues with ‘Do N ot Resuscitate’ orders. The MP said: “I am pleased that the CQC and Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals N HS Trust believe there have been improvements to the Trust’s services, but I am far from convinced. “The unannounced inspection took place after I contacted the CQC to draw their attention to an incredibly serious incident that I had been made aware of by a whistleblower. This incident involved an elderly man being discharged from the hospital by North West Ambulance Service with only a blanket wrapped around his bottom half. It occurred because both the Trust and NWAS failed to follow their own processes. “They should be deeply ashamed of this, and I had
Report by Danielle Thompson hoped that the CQC would bring this to light and properly hold them accountable. Instead, both CQC and the Trust seem to be brushing it under the carpet, burying this incident with only the slightest of references to it in the report. How can the Trust be held accountable if the regulator won’t even acknowledge serious failings like this? “I am also far from assured that Do N ot Resuscitate
CREATIVE KITCHEN DESIGN KITCHEN DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
Beautiful Kitchens at Affordable Prices
www.creative-kitchen-design.co.uk
How can the Trust be held accountable if the regulator won’t even acknowledge serious failings like this? MP Rosie Cooper
orders are properly consulted on with patients and families not just placed on a patient record without following the proper process. Family members have told me they knew nothing about the DNR that was placed on their loved ones’ record. “Across the NHS as a whole, I believe the police should be involved where the strict guidelines are breached. The public needs confidence in the medical staff treating them. “The Trust may be improving but it needs to improve more quickly than it is.” The CQC has published its report following a ‘focused’ inspection of medical care services at the Trust, looking at the safety of patient care and the wider management of risk across the service. Inspectors visited five wards at Southport and Formby District General Hospital in March, in response to patient care concerns. The five medical wards visited were the medical emergency assessment unit, general medical/gastroenterology ward (11b), cardiology including coronary care ward (7a), respiratory ward (14b) and the short stay ward (9a). Due to the specific focus of the inspection, the overall rating for the service and of Southport and Formby District General Hospital did not change and remains as Requires Improvement. The trust’s overall rating also remains as Requires Improvement. However, the Trust’s chief executive Trish ArmstrongChild said: “I am really pleased inspectors found significant improvements since their last inspection across all the areas they reviewed. Continued inside
Paige with her award
Nurse of Year award for Paige AN NHS worker from Skelmersdale has been voted Nurse of the Year for the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust. Paige Deegan, 24, has worked at Wigan hospital since graduating and was recently appointed Sister of the Ambulatory Care Unit. The Registered Nurse of the Year 2021 award is organised by the WWL NHS Trust was presented to Paige by the head of nursing.
Continued inside
Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm
OVER 25 KITCHEN DISPLAYS AVAILABLE TO VIEW IN STORE
Showroom/Factory: Unit 5, Tellet Home Ind Estate, Tollgate Road, Burscough L40 8LD
FREE Plan and Design FREE Home Visits FITTED BY PROFESSIONALS
CALL FOR YOUR FREE QUOTATION 01704
THE UK’S LARGEST LETTERBOX CIRCULATION BY AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER! 143,191
894160
CHAMPION SERIES
JAN-DEC 2020 100% FREE