NHS services in the West Midlands are failing patients and wasting money, a damning report revealed today.
More than half of bodies that run health facilities in the region need to improve their services and how they spend money, according to a report by the Healthcare Commission.
Of the 58 trusts, 34 were classed weak or fair by the commission with just two given excellent ratings.
The Black Country appears the worst place to live in the region for health services as West Midlands Ambulance Service, Rowley Regis Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Oldbury and Smethwick PCT were all rated weak in both quality of services and use of resources, meaning they failed to meet the basic core standards set out by the commission.
The Dudley Hospitals group and Walsall’s Manor Hospital provide a good quality of service, but the trust that runs Wolverhampton’s New Cross hospital is rated only as fair.
Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust, Dudley Group of Hospitals and Sandwell and Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust also failed to meet core standards on infection control and decontaminating medical equipment.
However, the overall picture of services in the region is poor according to the Annual Healthcheck report.
It comes at a time when many of the trusts are planning large-scale job cuts to tackle mounting debts.
Sir Ian Kennedy, chair of the Healthcare Commission, said: “Overall, the NHS must raise its game in some areas if it is to serve patients as they deserve.”
Staffordshire Ambulance Trust was rated as weak for its quality of service in the report.
By Health Correspondent Andy Rea
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