West Middlesex University Hospital

Our rating of services stayed the same. We rated it them as good because:

• The hospital environment was clean. Equipment was clean and maintained.
• There were effective infection prevention and control measures in place.
• Good medicines management processes were embedded in practice. There were measures in place to equalise pharmacy arrangements between the two sites.
• Staff followed treatment protocols and national guidelines.
• Staff showed patients dignity, respect, care and emotional support and were helpful to patients and public in corridors.
• Divisional leadership which was across both sites was effective.
• Staff were proud to work for the hospital and were supported.
• The service planned and delivered care in a way that reflected the needs of the population of patients who accessed the service to ensure continuity of care. Patients’ needs, and preferences were considered and acted on to ensure services were delivered to meet those needs.
• The trust had taken note of concerns raised about the maternity service at the previous inspection and made improvements in the areas of safety, staffing levels, high usage and reliance on temporary staff, staff skill mix, midwife to women ratio and providing one to one care in labour to women.
• The local and national audits were completed and actions were taken to improve care and treatment when indicated. The service performed better than national average in the National Neonatal Audit programme and perinatal mortality rate (MBRRACE audit).

However;

• There was no critical care follow up service as per national recommendations for intensive care units.
• Average bed occupancy rates in critical care were higher than bed establishment of the unit.
• Consultant vacancy rate in critical care was high and night time resident cover did not meet national standards.
• Some mandatory training in maternity was below the trust target of 90%.