'No surprises' over damning hospital report
A governor at Wexham Park Hospital said there were 'no surprises' after the hospital was heavily criticised by a health watchdog.
Tracey Morgan says the corporate management team would have seen findings of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) if they had 'bothered' to walk around.
CQC released a damning report last week saying the Slough hospital was failing to protect the welfare of patients and there was a catalogue of failures.
Tracey, who is also the chief executive of Age Concern Slough and Berkshire East, said: "If they (corporate management team) had bothered to walk around our hospital with their eyes open, they would have seen what the CQC inspectors did, day in day out."
She had complained about quality of care at Wexham Park in May last year after her 87-year-old mother-in-law Jean Stevens suffered facial injuries while in care for a broken wrist.
"Had they been honest, transparent and quick to learn from mistakes made, they would have avoided being in this position of 'special measures'."
She said an email she wrote on July 6 last year outlining what the hospital needed to address was ignored by management and all the issues she raised mirrored in the CQC report.
"For some time I have as a governor, as Age Concern, as a patient and relative, been pointing out systemic failings and cultural issues.
"There was no demonstrable will to change and worse no recognition of how bad things really are on the ground floor."
She did praise 'some angels' working at the hospital but said many had forgotten they were there for the 'benefit of patients'.
And from working on the board of the Berkshire Care Association she said she has seen care homes closed for a lot less failings.
"Before change happens the management really must be honest with themselves and set out very clear expectations to anyone who works at the hospital," she said.
"I have seen care homes closed, reputations and livelihoods damaged for far less than the findings, here."
The NHS service regulator says the trust running Wexham Park Hospital has assured it grave concerns raised in a report will be put right within three months.
Monitor has demanded a recovery plan is outlined and said it will increase its scrutiny of Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Foundation Trust due to the 'seriousness' of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) dossier.
The regulator, whose role is to protect patients, has taken action following a warning notice from CQC and wants to ensure a plan is implemented to deal with poor care and shortfalls in A&E.
In April Monitor issued an enforcement notice demanding urgent improvements in finance and governance.
Regional director Mark Turner, said: "We want Heatherwood and Wexham Park to fix its problems quickly and effectively, so that patients can receive the quality care they deserve.
"We have taken this action to promote and protect patient's interests and, will consider further action if these problems are not fixed satisfactorily."
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