The Care Quality Commission has today published reports into its focussed inspection on 11 August 2020 at the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford.
The visit focused on infection prevention and control, in medical care and accident and emergency.
The Trust acted to address the CQC’s feedback immediately after its visit, responded to the CQC’s enforcement notice and is regularly reporting audits and progress back to the CQC.
Chief Executive Susan Acott, said: “In August, a CQC inspection team visited the William Harvey Hospital and saw examples of practice which falls short of the high standard we all want to provide for our patients.
“Keeping our patients and staff safe is our priority. We have responded to the CQC with the actions we are taking and we are committed to the care and safety of every patient in our hospitals.
“Rapid, long-lasting improvements are being led by our new, highly experienced, Interim Director of Infection, Prevention and Control - Dr Sara Mumford.”
Interim Director of Infection Prevention and Control Dr Sara Mumford said:
“This inspection took place two months ago and we took immediate action to make improvements.
“Since the inspection, we have retrained staff in the correct use of PPE and hand hygiene, put in place additional checks for cleaning, hand hygiene and PPE, reviewed and strengthened our policies and are making physical changes to the hospital to support social distancing.
“Staff have worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic to care for patients, and their care and safety remains our priority.”
In the emergency department the CQC found equipment was kept clean, staff were bare below the elbows, handled clinical waste appropriately, had access to personal protective equipment and used it in line with national guidance. There were dedicated isolation rooms for patients and “donning and doffing” areas for staff supported by a dedicated PPE officer.
In medical care staff were also found to be bare below the elbows, equipment was clean, clinical waste, linen and sharps were handled and disposed of safely and infection control training compliance was good.
The CQC noted that the Trust had implemented an electronic patient tracking list which identified every patients’ covid-19 status and had carried out risk assessments for all staff.
However, the CQC found that infection risks were not always controlled well, risk assessments, documentation and audits was not always completed and not all staff were up to date with policies, procedures and training.
The CQC highlighted that the physical environment of the hospital needed improvement, including the design of bays which do not have doors, curtains not always drawn between beds and some hand sanitiser dispensers were found to be empty.
They also witnessed staff not always following the correct hand hygiene procedures, not always wearing PPE correctly and staff did not always adhere to social distancing.
Since the visit the Trust has brought in refreshed mandatory training for all clinical staff; put in place additional checks and audits for cleaning, hand hygiene and correct use of PPE; reviewed and strengthened its policies and standard operating procedures and is making physical changes to the hospital to increase the number of “donning and doffing” areas and support social distancing. All areas within the emergency department have also been risk assessed.
Staff are being encouraged to support each other in maintaining best practice in the wearing of appropriate PPE and the use of hand hygiene and challenge appropriately where they see this isn’t happening.
Since the start of the pandemic we more than doubled the hours of cleaning within the hospital; implemented national guidance on management of patients and use of PPE; created separate areas in the hospital to care for Covid and non-Covid patients and carried out regular testing of patients.
To prepare for the expected increase in patients needing care during the winter months, the emergency departments in Ashford and Margate, which were originally developed in the 1970s and 1980s, are benefitting from a £7m expansion.
The project will improve the experience for patients attending the departments with modern, fit-for-purpose children’s emergency departments, expanding waiting areas, additional cubicles and treatment space.
Read the CQC's report on the CQC's website
