Care Quality Commission issues warning notice to Fulbourn Hospital over care standards

Posted 13/02/2012

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust has been issued with warning notices over inadequate care standards as the result of a recent follow up visit. The Trust, which has been under scrutiny from the Care Quality Commission, has failed to meet the recommended improvements identified during previous visits. The Trust now has a limited period of time to address these concerns which relate to inadequate documentation and ensuring patients are cared for in a safe environment.Sharon Allison is a medical injury lawyer who represented the Thompson family in litigation against the Trust after their son, David, committed suicide whilst on agreed leave from the unit. She says: “The recent Review of Compliance makes depressing reading. What is concerning is that failing to minimise risk, failing to engage service users and their families and lack of structure for discharge planning are common themes in the cases that this firm handles. Sadly for most, the consequences are fatal.These continued failures are meaning that vulnerable service users are not getting what they essentially need from the service. Urgent action is needed to prevent any further loss of lives of those who, in the most part, have mental illnesses which are entirely treatable.”