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Still room for improvement at hospital
Tom Rowley19/ 9/2007
A PROGRESS report on Tameside Hospital's care of elderly patients says there is still scope for improvement.
A team from Tameside and Glossop primary care trust (PCT) visited eight wards, spoke to staff and interviewed GPs as well as patients, carers and relatives to assess progress made against the hospital's Dignity In Care plan.
This was produced following an independent inquiry which highlighted deficencies. Last year Tameside coroner John Pollard slammed as "despicable and chaotic" the care four pensioners received at the hospital.
Tricia Sloan, PCT performance and planning director, told a meeting on Wednesday: "The (acute) trust accepts there are areas for continued improvements in clinical standards such as catheterisation of patients, the appropriate response by staff to its 'Do Not Attempt Resuscitation' policy and improving information about discharge patients to GPs. People should not be discharged without a full, robust care package but that needs a multi-agency perspective."
She said both the PCT and the acute trust - which runs the hospital - were working on an electronic discharge information system, to be rolled out towards the end of the year.
She added: "We must keep the pressure on. The people of Tameside have to have access to the best healthcare we can possibly provide."
Miss Sloan pointed to improvements such as a £1.5m investment in new beds, which should help reduce the incidence of bedsores.
Ashton MP David Heyes paid tribute to the "quite remarkable" Tameside Action Group - formed by around 200 patients' relatives - for keeping the issue in the spotlight.
"Everyone remembers the coroner's remarks and the huge backlash that followed. The group was formed from nothing and had no experience of campaigning," he said.
He commended the PCT for its "constructive" report, adding: "It is a step along a road that has quite a way to go yet."
Hospital chief executive Christine Green said the report gave the hospital food for thought.
PCT board member Dr Kailash Chand said: "By and large care in the hospital is of a very good quality but this put a blot on it. It is excellent that the trust accepts there were faults and is looking to rectify them. But we have to keep working to make sure none of these episodes happens again."
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20/09/2007 at 00:32