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New fears over Stafford Hospital as bosses warn of staffing crisis

Stafford Hospital would become unsafe if just one or two key members of staff left, a top health inspector has warned.

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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) were called in to assess the hospital amid concerns over staff recruitment and retention.

Although the inspection has found the hospital is currently safe, it says staffing levels are 'only just adequate' in some areas, particularly medical wards.

Plans are already in place to move some services to other hospital trusts as Stafford Hospital is being downgraded after the trust which runs it was found to be financially and clinically 'unsustainable' by health regulator Monitor.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, chief inspectors of hospitals has urged those involved in moving services from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (MSFT) to other hospitals to develop a clear transition plan without delay.

He has written to Monitor, the Trust Development Authority and the Trust Special Administrator following an urgent inspection of the trust carried out at their request.

It took place between June 30 and July 2 to look at whether the trust's clinical services were safe.

The inspection team chaired by Andy Welch, medical director of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, concluded that services were safe, but staffing levels were only just adequate in some areas.

They were not assured about the sustainability of services and warned that should recruitment or retention fall by even one or two people in some key posts, services would become unsafe.

In his letter, Professor Richards said: "The senior managers at MSFT, including the chief executive are having to spend inordinate amounts of time ensuring that individual nursing shifts are adequately filled and that sufficient numbers of medical staff will be available for different services. To date they have been able to do this, but I would emphasise the word just.'

"We were both surprised and very concerned that a clear transition plan has yet to be developed to ensure the safe transition of responsibility for clinical services to the agreed model of care over the next four months. This clearly requires the full involvement of MSFT and other organisations in the wider health economy.

"In addition, the workforce at MSFT needs clarity as soon as possible about what is going to happen next. The current uncertainty is contributing to the fatigue and fragility amongst staff. The transition plan should therefore include a commitment by the acquiring organisations to support medical and nursing staff levels at Mid Staffs over the next four months so that services remain safe.'

A full CQC report is expected to be published next month.

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