West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust risks being taken into special measures
18th October 2007
Anne Main comments on Healthcare Commission's rating of West Herts Hosptials NHS Trust as 'weak'.
Following the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust has been rated as 'weak' by the Healthcare Commission on both use of resources and quality of services, the Secretary of State for Health has issued a statement.
Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson said "To make sure we take every possible step I have therefore asked the Commission to inspect these Trusts again. If they are not satisfied with the action that the trust is taking to ensure compliance, they will be able to issue improvement notices, and in exceptional circumstances place the Trust under special measures so that changes can be made. Good cleanliness and hygiene are non-negotiable."
Anne said:
"For two years the Trust has been working to try to improve the situation but I see few signs that the situation will be improved. Patients should also be rightly concerned that the report doesn't even measure C-difficile rates.
"We must now face the possibility that the Trust will face improvement notices and maybe even being placed in special measures." "
