Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
NHS trusts under fire
Thursday 15th October 2009, 11:30AM BST.
Two hospital trusts in the West Midlands were today branded ‘weak’ for their overall quality of service to patients.
The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall, and Mid Staffordshire NHS FoundationTrust, which runs troubled Stafford Hospital and Cannock Hospital, were told they needed to improve.
They are the only foundation hospital trusts in the region, giving them more financial freedom than other trusts.
But while both were praised for their finances, their care for patients was deemed to be among the worst in the country.
Mid Staffordshire, subject of an inquiry into high death rates at Stafford Hospital, was told it is not meeting some of its core standards such as making sure staff are appropriately recruited, trained and qualified.
Dudley was told it had failed in commitments such as A&E waiting times and underachieved in other areas such as other treatment waiting times.
The Care Quality Commission released today’s ratings and Andrea Gordon, regional director, urged Dudley and Mid Staffordshire trusts to “address the shortfall in their performance” or face sanctions.
Paula Clark, chief executive of the Dudley trust said the “weak” rating was not acceptable and the trust has already improved.
She added: “Patient care and safety is always our top priority and we are working to ensure we improve on meeting our targets and on the quality of our information and data to gain a higher rating next year.”
Mid Staffordshire chief executive Antony Sumara said: “We know where we are failing and we are taking action to improve the quality of services for our patients.”
Sponsored Links
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Russells Hall Hospital boasts an amazing multi-million pound computerised pharmacy, where robots are able to zip along the shelves, select the right prescription and deliver it the servery.
However, you still have to wait twice as long to pick up your drugs as you do at hospitals like Selly Oak, where the pill sorting is still done by hand.
Progress, I think it’s called.
Report abuse
Waiting in A & E ensures you extend your stay past the free parking time….thus making more money for Interserve :-(
Report abuse
Paula Clarke states “the weak rating was not acceptable and the trust has already improved” why can’t she say sorry, resign and let someone else try to improve standards. If it is not acceptable then SOMEONE should carry the can.
Report abuse
‘Both were praised for their finances’:sums it up. Accountants running hospitals… get the finances right, b….. the patients
Report abuse
I have family dependant on Russells Hall.What we do hear a lot about are the fabulous salaries of the very numerous administration staff.I am tired of hearing horror stories froml there of this patient or that patient’s ordeal-my Mum has her own stories too.
I know most of the staff are caring and well-minded but everything possible must be made to make it into the BEST hospital and not one that is always being accused of being bad.
There is no reason why a DY postcode should be a loser medically.The whole of Dudley needs sprucing up and properly marketed amongst other things to get the best doctors note doctors.A huge effort is needed to get over this negative problem and that is friom everybody everywhere.Wouldn’t it be lovely to say ”Where we live,that’s in Dudley,we have a a fabulous hospital with magnificent staff and wonderful facilities.YES IT IS POSSIBLE.
Report abuse
Perhaps this will shut Gordon Brown up, he’s forever going on how Labour have improved the NHS. They’ve poured billions into it without any noticeable improvement. TIME FOR A CHANGE.
Report abuse
Proves what I already knew. 18 Months ago I complained officially to the board about my treatment. A month later I got a letter saying they thought the care they offer is exemplary, they have every faith in their specialists. They say they spoke to the specialist who told them their was nothing really wrong with me so suggested I went to QE. I’m now paralysed from the waist down with brain damage and housebound at 32 years old…..Docs at QE said half the problems would never have happened if the care given at RH had been good enough
Report abuse
Yes i have to agree with Bruce the Dudley Borough
has a real image problem, with the present Tory council closing every bath and youth club soon we wont have a Borough left!
Friends of Dudley town centre(please join the fight)
Report abuse
What change Paula? This is a Tory Council! Shall we get a Labour council back in control? God help us if Cameron gets into power. No More NHS Good bye!
Report abuse
Thanks for the support !
Let’s start a slogan :
“Make Dudley the BEST!”
I mean EVERYTHING.
People are no worse there than anywhere else.
It is a question of a huge community will.And a will to WIN EVERTHING.
Hospital with problems? What do we do?
Not enough jobs? What do we do ?
Scruffy and maligned ? What do we do ?
Leisure up the creek ? What do we do ?
We do not go home from our cushy administrative job and say “at the end of the day,sod it all in Dudley !” ,have a double whisky,turn on the telly and do the ostrich head-in-the-sand act.
Dudley is in a mess.It needs leaders and a big heap of ideas.And now.
Good luck everyone !
Report abuse