Call for inquiry into trust failings

Waiting times, cleanliness and standards of nursing care are among the concerns of hospital patients in Staffordshire, a new survey has revealed.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Cannock and Stafford, was found to be the worst performing trust in the West Midlands in results published by the Care Quality Commission.

The trust is trying to recover from the care standards scandal that may have led to hundreds of Stafford Hospital patients dying needlessly over three-years.

It was also rated worse than many other UK trusts in some areas of the survey.

Concerns including waiting times, cleanliness and standards of nursing care were highlighted by the inpatients surveyed.

The survey, which asked for the views of inpatients at hospitals across the UK, was carried out between July and October 2009.

Campaigners from Cure the NHS believe that the findings in relation to Mid Staffs reinforced their calls for big changes at the trust - and a full public inquiry into its failings.

Group leader Julie Bailey said: "We are really disappointed by these results. We realise the survey relates to 2009 - but that was 12 months after the Healthcare Commission report.

"The Care Quality Commission told us the hospital was improving rapidly, so we don't know what to believe.

"Again, this really exposes the failings at the hospital.

"Something has got to be done, but we don't believe it has yet."

Patients rated the trust lower than average for the wait to get a bed, what they thought of nurses, care and treatment and their overall views and experiences.

Bosses claim that they have already introduced policies and procedures to deal with many of the concerns which were identified.

Walsall Hospitals Trust, responsible for Walsall Manor Hospital, rated worse for patients concerned about sharing accommodation and toilets with members of the opposite sex.

It scored scoring 8.2 out of 10 for nurses washing their hands after touching a patient.