VERTICAL BLINDS
3 FOR
£89 SALE 046 1502
Tel: 0800
Remembrance services – p10
01274 305 410
ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley
PATIENT SAFETY AT RISK
Friday November 7, 2014
12 MONTHS
No. 659
GUARANTEE
50p
Lyon-heart George remembers
Some Dewsbury services unsafe, say inspectors
By David Miller
p11 p11
Is Sam a Ram?! Sport
News Reporter davidmiller@thepressnews.co.uk
SERVICES at Dewsbury District Hospital have been branded unsafe in a damning inspection report. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessed eight clinical areas and dubbed the safety of three of them ‘inadequate’. These were medical care, end of life care, and outpatients and diagnostics. The other five – A&E, surgery, critical care, maternity and gynaecology and children and young people –, were rated as ‘requires improvement.’ Staff shortages and the moving of personnel between Dewsbury, Pinderfields and Pontefract hospitals were blamed. The safety of outpatient services was rated as ‘inadequate’ due to a backlog of 9,500 appointments. Inspectors published their report on Tuesday following visits to the Staincliffe site in July. It is the first time the hospital has been assessed under a new inspection regime similar to that used for schools. The eight clinical areas were also judged on how effective, caring, responsive and well led they are. Most of the ratings were either
The Care Quality Commission’s ratings for Dewsbury District Hospital were released this week ‘requires improvement’ or ‘good’. Caring was found to be ‘good’ across the board. Patients were concerned about long waiting times in A&E and for outpatient appointments. The cost and availability of car parking was an issue, as was the safety of elderly care on Ward 5. A rise in patient harm incidents, complaints about poor care and low staffing levels saw the ward partially
closed. Some of the beds on Ward 5 were recently reopened as Ward 6b due to pressure on admissions. The condition of the mortuary was also criticised for putting staff at risk of infection. Inspectors wrote: “The mortuary was in a poor state of decorative repair, with damaged walls and broken tiles.”
Continues on page 14
Ready For Winter? VISIT US FOR GREAT IDEAS TO KEEP WARM IN STYLE
Woodburning stoves from
£495
Call into our Large Showroom at Horbury Bridge
Wakefield Commercial Park, Horbury Bridge (Parking outside the Door)
01924 277308 www.flamesofwakefield.co.uk