Watchdog downgrades A&E unit rating after visit

Just two years after opening, the accident and emergency unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary needs improvement, according to the health watchdog.

An inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found the department was "extremely busy and overcrowded" with staff reporting the service "felt unsafe due to high demand".

Corridor care compromised the safety, privacy and dignity of patients, while handovers lacked detail.

Jo Hilton, chief nurse at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) insisted patient safety was the "absolute priority" and the trust had already undertaken "significant work" to address concerns.

The state-of-the-art £15m A&E department at HRI opened in May 2024.

When it opened, the clinical lead, Dr Mark Davies told the BBC the new department would "help the hospital better deliver services to people in the area"

It featured a dedicated children's waiting area, a larger resuscitation area and a sensitively located bereavement suite for families.

During their inspection, which took place in January and February, however, the CQC found staff were unable to meet people's needs because of the "considerable pressure".

"Staff reported periods where the service felt unsafe due to high demand, particularly at night, with paediatrics as a particular concern," said the CQC's Chris Storton.

There were also variations in how quickly staff administered medicines to people identified of being at high risk of sepsis.

In one case, staff had not informed another department that someone was being treated for cancer and therefore had a weakened immune system.

"People were handed over without time-critical medications and medical history being explained," added Storton.

The overall rating of urgent and emergency services at CHFT was downgraded from good to requires improvement.

The specific categories of being safe and effective were also rated as requires improvement.

However, the areas of caring, being well-led and responsive were rated good.

"We are very sorry that at the time the CQC visited us, some patients did not receive the standard of urgent and emergency care they should expect at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary," Hilton continued.

"The findings in this report reflect issues we recognise, particularly around long waits, overcrowding and the impact this can have on people's comfort, dignity, and safety when our department is at its busiest."

Since the CQC inspection, new processes have been introduced to improve information sharing and better access to food and drink for patients.

"It is clear the pressures on the department have, at times, meant we have not delivered care in the way we want to," Hilton added.

"We take full responsibility for putting it right."

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