A LEGAL order has been issued against the trust which runs Basildon and Southend hospitals demanding “significant improvements”.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has served Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE) with a section 29A order under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, setting out areas of improvement that must be made by the trust or it will face further action.

It comes after CQC determined the trust was failing in documentation of risk assessments, the nutrition and hydration of patients, and was failing to ensure equipment was clean and well-kept.

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The order follows an unannounced inspection of medical care at the trust’s three hospitals – including Broomfield – on January 24 and 25.

Following the inspection, the CQC requested MSE take “urgent action” to improve the care provided.

Leaked internal documents seen by the Echo reveal “thick dust” was reported on trollies and equipment while there was said to be “significant amounts of old blood” around the unit’s arterial blood gas machine – used to check for severe breathing and lung problems.

The “vast majority” of patients were also said to not have call buzzers or they were not within reach, while those who did were often “left for over ten minutes when pressing their call bell”.

An unannounced follow-up inspection two weeks later found the hospital was still failing to meet expectations and a section 29A notice was issued requiring improvements to be made by May 15.

CQC section 29A warning notices are served when the organisation decides that there is need for “significant improvements” in the quality of healthcare at an NHS trust.

The legal order is reserved for concerns that “result in the risk of harm or actual harm”.

The notice sets a timescale for when the improvements need to be implemented, if the trust has not complied with the requirements CQC will then decide on further action which can include cancelling registration.

 

Trust board meeting documents reveal it has commenced “quality assurance visits” focussed on the issue identified by CQC inspectors.

A “Rapid Quality Review” meeting has been organised for 27 March where representation from the trust, NHS England, CQC, General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Southend Council will meet to ensure “appropriate actions and mitigations have been undertaken”.  

A spokesperson for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “An unannounced inspection took place in January 2023. Inspectors witnessed some good team working and compassionate care, and we are working to address the specific issues raised.”