Hospital in Dudley fails to meet the 60min sepsis target
An inspection at the Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley has found that the hospital does not meet the 60min target for screening of sepsis and antibiotic administration.
This comes as an enormous issue as the chances of improvement fall drastically if the treatment is not started promptly.
This inspection come after a previous investigation over 54 deaths which took place between December 2017 and June 2018. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), a health watchdog, found inappropriate management of sepsis patients.
Simon Smith, 51, died in July 2018 after he was not given antibiotics for five days. In March 2018, Natalie Billingham, 33, died after being sent home by the staff, who failed to recognise her condition.
The Care Quality Commission was alarmed at the treatment of sepsis patients, who were neglected for hours with no tests or treatment. The inspectors attribute the treatment to the ‘frustration’ of doctors over the NHS’s new focus on the deadly infection and did not treat it seriously as a result.
2019 follow up inspection by the CQC saw the Dudley Group NHS Trust has continued to fail its patients regarding treating sepsis in timely manner.
The CQC has mentioned that many patients were not monitored and those which were assigned to wait on corridors were not safe. The hospital’s diagnostic imaging provision was also not large enough to meet the demand. Furthermore, some of the staff did not finish all the required training, leaving patients at risk.
The reported stated that the practice of giving prescriptions, recording and storage of medicine was also poor.
The inspection carried out at the beginning of this year found the current state of the trust unacceptable and in need of serious improvement.
The trust has been ordered to make sure its emergency department is safe, and the issue of the overcrowding is resolved. It must monitor for signs of sepsis and develop plans for already deteriorating patients.
Breach of legal requirements was also found in as many as 54 areas, which the trust needs to address urgently. The one positive aspect in this situation has been the staff treating patients with respect and kindness.
It has now been revealed that the trust will most likely run out of money come September of this year, forcing it to raise more funds, for example by selling the excess land. This comes as another blow to the Dudley trust, on top of the bullying accusations it has faced.
The Russells Hall Hospital is operated by the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. This trust is also in charge of Corbett Outpatient Centre in Stourbridge and Guest Outpatient Centre in Dudley. 450,000 people from Dudley, a few communities in Wyre Forest and South Staffordshire and parts of Sandwell borough would be affected if their health services were to close.
A trust audit mentioned in the report showed that from September 2018 to January 2019, the 60min targets for sepsis screening and administering antibiotics where were not met.
With how much emphasis is put on the early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, it is surprising how some hospitals still do not take it seriously enough.
It is understandable that with the cuts to the NHS funding, all hospitals are put under massive amounts of stress and the staff morale is dropping. Hoverer, staff should always take the health of their patients as a priority over their frustration with the system.
Sepsis is a life-threatening response to an infection. It can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and even death. Oversights, lack of tests, no monitoring and delays in treatment can impact a patient for the rest of their lives, which is why the importance of quick treatment has been stressed over and over.
If you have suffered from sepsis and have been a victim of subpar treatment which worsened your condition, we could help you make a medical negligence claim. By making a sepsis negligence claim, you could be eligible to receive the compensation you deserve.
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