16
Feb 2021
Body left on ward for five hours as nurses are forced to care for 17 patients each, inspectors find
A new inspection report has revealed that nurses working at one of England’s largest hospitals were forced to care for as many as 17 patients each during the autumn surge in coronavirus cases.
The University Hospitals Birmingham Trust has been criticised over poor governance and management of patient safety incidents after Care Quality Commission inspectors found a number of examples of mistakes in patient care and risks that had not been tackled.
The regulator found that nursing staff ratios reduced to dangerous levels, with nursing having to look after up to 17 patients each at the trust’s Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield.
Speaking about the trust’s main hospital, the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham, inspectors said “On every ward we visited during our inspection, staff consistently told us that they were short staffed. Registered-nurse-to-patient ratios were often one to nine during the day and one to 12 during the night shift.”
The report added that a patient who had died was left on a ward without staff to look after the body or prepare it for transport. The patient died at 6.45 am and was still there at 11.35 am.
“This was reported by several staff members and it caused them distress.”
The report also highlighted how another patient had died and others had come to harm following avoidable falls, saying “We were provided with examples of potentially avoidable falls due to low staffing numbers.
“On ward 11, a patient fell and passed away after sustaining an injury. At the time of the fall, the ward was short-staffed, and all staff were busy with other patients.
“An investigation report was produced as a result which highlighted staffing as a concern.”
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.
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of 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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