Walsall Manor Hospital up to standard after new inspection
A hospital where staff were not properly completing patients records has been given the all clear following a new independent inspection.
The level of staffing on wards has also been found to meet the standards at Walsall Manor after the recent checks by the Care Quality Commission.
The hospital was highlighted for failing to complete patient records, update food charts and register reports of pain, by the CQC around 18 months ago.
A fresh assessment was carried out in March on records-keeping and checks were also carried out after a whistle blower raised concerns about paediatric staffing levels.
The findings of the CQC have now concluded that Walsall Manor is meeting the standard in the areas of staffing and also records.
This states that personal records, including medical records, should be accurate and kept safe and confidential. They were satisfied that people were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate treatment because accurate and appropriate records were maintained.
The report said: "Previously, we had identified non-compliance in this area. Notes were incomplete which may have made care unsafe.
"It was identified that improved care records were required to provide assurance that people would receive the care they needed.
"On this inspection we saw that new, improved records were in place. On the wards, improvements were seen in the completion and availability of care records since the last inspection.
In terms of workforce, it added: "We reviewed the staffing levels at all grades for paediatric care in the hospital.
"We found that medical and nursing staff levels were appropriate for the delivery of care at the current time and these were continually under review.
"The staff we spoke with were all keen to demonstrate innovation and were enthusiastic about working for the trust."
The review included visiting five wards and the A&E department along with speaking to 31 staff members, eight patients and five relatives.
Amir Khan, medical director at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust said: "All of our patient records should be accurate, complete, easy to use and support the delivery of safe, high quality and integrated care and we have developed new, streamlined documents that will help us achieve these aims.
"We have worked hard to improve our patient records are pleased that our hard work in this area has been recognised.
"We are also pleased that an improvement in our staffing levels has been recognised following a focussed recruitment drive that saw a number of new nurses join areas across the organisation."
