Upgrade needed as Compton Care hit by poor report

Patients and healthcare workers ranked the Wolverhampton-based hospice bottom out of 269 providers for the category in the Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE).

And the group’s Compton Hall site was rated 10th worst out of 1,197 hospitals and hospices in the country.

In response to the report, chief executive Claire Marshall said a three-year strategy was in place to invest £4.5 million into improving the organisation’s services and buildings.

She admitted: “There is a strong need for modernisation and upgrading of both services and our buildings and the necessary investment has been agreed by our board of trustees.”

Compton Care, formerly known as Compton Hospice, underwent a rebrand earlier this year.

The annual PLACE assessments are for non-clinical parts of care and are based on ratings from staff and patients.

They look at areas such as privacy and dignity, food, cleanliness and environment support for the disabled.

Compton Care scored 77 per cent for condition, appearance and maintenance. The national average was 94 per cent.

The organisation, in Compton Road West, also scored poorly in relation to how its buildings supported care for those who are disabled, looking at access to wheelchairs and handrails – 67 per cent compared to a national average of 84 per cent.

In the environmental support for dementia patients its score was 63 per cent, 16 per cent below the national average.

Other health facilities to perform poorly in the ratings included Huntercombe Hospital in Wheaton Aston.

The private hospital received a 66 per cent score for food and also fared badly for condition, appearance and maintenance, getting an 80 per cent score.

A spokesman said a new head chef had joined since the survey took place.

He added: “We have also recently appointed a support services manager who has been overseeing a wider programme of improvement of non-clinical services, including facilities for disabled patients.”

At Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital, Tettenhall, patients and healthcare workers gave the hospital a low score for its provision for people who were disabled and with dementia, getting 60 per cent and 67 per cent respectively.

A spokesman said: “We are disappointed with the findings. We strive to provide a flexible and adaptable service. We will be reviewing the report to identify areas for improvement.”

The region’s NHS hospitals scored well overall.

However, Walsall Manor Hospital scored poorly for the provisions for the disabled and people with dementia, 72 per cent and 76 per cent.

It was also the worst hospital in the region for food, with a score of 81 per cent.

Wolverhampton’s West Park Hospital, run by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, posted the region’s best ratings across all categories.

Full statement from Claire Marshall, Compton Care chief executive

"Published recently on NHS digital are the results of Compton Care’s rating in our recent Patient Led Assessment of the Care Environment (PLACE).

"The assessment is compulsory for all NHS buildings however we at Compton Care take part on a voluntary basis as an independent healthcare provider with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients, families, visitors, staff and volunteers.

"The results of the PLACE assessment, completed earlier this year, highlighted the need for improvements to be made to the ‘condition, appearance and maintenance’ of our buildings.

"We welcome the feedback from the PLACE, particularly in light of the fact that Compton Care conducted our own survey last year.

"Our survey consulted patients as well as staff, volunteers and the health and social care professionals who refer patients into our services of which the findings were similar.

"The feedback suggested there is a strong need for modernisation and upgrading of both services and our buildings and the necessary investment has been agreed by our Board of Trustees.

"As Compton Care, our services are focused on caring for people living with and managing a broad range of long term progressive conditions.

"It is, of course, important to us that patients cared for at our two service sites have the best facilities.

"Approximately 70 per cent of our patients are cared for in the community, wherever those patients call home, however we do run nine services from our Compton Hall and Cedars sites and those facilities need to be fit for purpose for the future.

"This is, of course, challenging with our historical Grade II listed buildings but we have a strategy to meet that challenge and work has already started on the Compton Hall site.

"Our new three-year strategy has been developed from patient, staff and referrer feedback and includes a comprehensive buildings upgrade plan, including an investment of £4.5m into the improvement of our services and facilities.

"Our Coordination Centre project, which started earlier this month, will greatly enhance the care and support available to patients.

"The refurbishment also includes an overhaul of the reception facility at Compton Hall, new toilets throughout the old part of the building and refurbishment of our kitchen and dining facilities.

"All of this work will improve the facilities and address the challenges highlighted from our own findings as well as the PLACE assessment.

"It is important to note that PLACE assessments are mandatory for NHS Trusts but they are not specially designed for independent healthcare providers and are therefore entirely voluntary for charities like Compton Care.

"At Compton, we have chosen to undertake the assessment as we believe it is best practice to engage with patients about our facilities and this complements our ethos and internal procedures for ensuring safety, cleanliness and effectiveness.

"Our patients tell us that Compton Care’s patient services are extraordinary and we are working hard to ensure all our buildings meet the same high standards."