Shake-up at Irvine Unit follows complaint investigation

Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust received a report on Wednesday on the situation setting out in detail the action now being taken.

On Monday, officers of the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital, which has also been concerned about low staff morale at the unit, were given assurances that a new manager had been appointed and more nursing staff recruited.

The 54-bedded unit, used for intermediate care, rehabilitation and palliative care, was the subject of a complaint last December from the relative of a patient at the unit who had died following transfer to the Conquest Hospital.

Trust interim chief executive Vanessa Harris says this complaint followed earlier concerns that had already led to actions being put in place in late 2007 to improve care there.

A panel was set up under the chairmanship of Stuart Welling, a non-executive director of the Trust.

Vanessa Harris says in summary: "The panel considers that there was a decline in standards on the Irvine Unit over a period of time and a general failure of the management to recognise and rectify this.

"However, the review, which reported in June, considers that 'senior managers within the new PCT had taken significant action to remedy the situation' and makes a number of further recommendations for addressing the key issues."

An action plan is now being implemented including:

*Appointment of a new management team

*Increased specialist input

*Better multi-disciplinary working

*A staff development programme

*Improved patient record systems

*Dedicated nursing teams

*Improved discharge of patients

*Updated admission criteria.

Other action has included identifying a lead director to ensure the recommendations are implemented; agreeing monitoring arrangements; implementing a staff communications programme; auditing mandatory training for staff

and establishing a clinical lead accountable for professional development.

Vanessa Harris says that as a matter of policy "and certainly within six months," the Trust will:

*Increase the level of medical cover in the unit

*Review the role and function of the unit

*Ensure that all staff have up-to-date personal development objectives and performance plans

*Establish a rolling programme of patient satisfaction surveys

The complainant alleged that the Irvine Unit had not provided an acceptable level of physical and mental care for the patient and had requested an immediate review.

A chronology of events submitted by the complainant listed a series of failings regarding the patient's care. This included references to specific staffing issues, clinical and personal care given and communication issues.

It also included a formal complaint regarding the involvement of the GP practice of the patient.

The report says the complaint highlighted the failure of communication between the Irvine Unit and the GP practice.

The former chief executive of the PCT had responded in February, expressing his concerns at the content of the complaint.

"He accepted that there had been shortcomings and referred specifically to the apparent failure in the admission processes, staffing issues, failures in communication, and deficiencies in the personal and clinical care received by the patient.