The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published reports for two hospitals run by King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust following inspections that finished in April and May last year.
CQC carried out these inspections to follow up on improvements required from previous inspections, and as part of CQC’s ongoing monitoring of the trust.
Following these inspections:
King's College Hospital
- Maternity services remain rated as requires improvement.
- Medical care (including older people's care) remains rated as requires improvement.
- Services for children and young people have declined from good to requires improvement.
- The overall rating of King's College Hospital remains rated as requires improvement.
Princess Royal University Hospital
- Maternity services remain rated as requires improvement.
- The overall rating of Princess Royal University Hospital remains rated as requires improvement.
Carolyn Jenkinson, CQC deputy director of hospitals in London, said:
“When we inspected services run by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, we found that some services remained rated as requires improvement. Although ratings had not deteriorated, we continued to find areas of concerns. This included maternity services, medical care and services for children and young people at King’s College Hospital.
“At King’s College Hospital, leaders hadn’t addressed some long-standing safety concerns in maternity. Staff didn’t consistently manage clinical risks promptly, and the hospital didn’t employ enough staff with the right skills and experience to deliver safe care. While there was a positive learning culture, staff said they didn’t feel supported to raise concerns.
“Leaders and staff didn’t share a clear vision based on listening and trust. Leaders weren’t always visible or supportive, and some staff reported experiences of bullying or harassment. Staff didn’t always identify or addressed risks quickly, which affected people’s safety.
“We also found medical care and services for children and young people at King’s College Hospital below the standard people should expect. Low staffing levels in both areas disrupted services and affected staff wellbeing. However, People and their families told us staff were kind, respectful and visible.
“At Princess Royal University Hospital, maternity services still require improvement. Staff weren’t always consulted on changes to the service, and leaders didn’t act quickly enough to manage risks. Despite this, women described the care as kind and supportive, and felt involved in decisions.
“We’ve shared our findings with the trust, so they know where improvements are needed. We’ll continue to monitor these services closely to ensure people receive safe care while these improvements are being made.”
Inspectors also found:
- Staff didn't always complete fetal monitoring risk assessments for women in maternity services at King’s College Hospital, which could affect the safety of women and babies.
However, across all two hospitals:
- People and families consistently praised staff for being kind, warm, compassionate and professional in their care.
- Staff completed and updated comprehensive and person-centred care plans.
- Staff involved people and their families in decisions about care and treatment.