Spalding MP seeks meeting with United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust after CQC report

Leaders of a troubled health trust are being asked for an urgent meeting by South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes to discuss its latest inspection report.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, which runs Boston's Pilgrim Hospital, remains in special measures after being rated as "Requires Improvement" by Care Quality Commission.

During the inspection, which took place in the summer, the team noted some improvements had been made but also imposed conditions on the Trust for its emergency departments at Boston and Lincoln.

Chief Executive Andrew Morgan said the Trust was going to focus on staff recruitment, leadership and training to address the 'structural' issues identified in the report.

Sir John said: "This report is very disturbing and I am going to ask for an urgent meeting with the Trust.

"I know the staff are doing a great job, having being a beneficiary of their care.

"I am going to see what more we can do to build on the good work being done by the staff there and make sure they get the support they need."

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The Trust has been rated as 'Good' for caring but ranked as 'Requires Improvement' for safe, effective, responsive and well-led.

Inspectors had increased Pilgrim's rating from "inadequate" to "requires improvement" in recognition of the progress made over the last year around mortality rates. The report also identified areas of outstanding practice observed in medical care, critical care and maternity at Lincoln and Pilgrim.

Chief Executive Mr Morgan said: "We acknowledge that we have more to do to improve our rating, but we’d like to reassure our patients and public that although many areas of our hospitals were rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ in this latest inspection, we maintain a focus on providing safe, quality care to our patients and our rating for ‘Caring’ was ‘Good’.

"Many of the issues identified are structural- around governance, staffing shortages, estates issues, lack of digital maturity and financial pressures. It is also clear that we need to focus on recruitment, leadership, staff training and competencies, staff engagement and addressing workforce inequalities going forward.

"We also acknowledge particular concerns around our emergency departments and are taking action to ensure that improvements are made as quickly as possible. We also took immediate action to address the CQC’s urgent concerns."