Hospital criticised over abusive treatment of patients

Posted: September 28, 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence 

Following a recent investigation, it was found that the patients at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon were being treated in an “undignified” and “emotionally abusive” manner. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) revealed the findings following a visit earlier this month. They originally composed a letter to the hospital – which is run by the private company Circle – stating their concerns, yet the letter was leaked to the Health Service Journal.

The report, which followed the letter, highlighted several key areas that were not being met by the hospital. The inspectors said that patients were not only being treated poorly on an emotional level, but also on a physical level.  The team reported that the hospital’s hand washing guidelines were not being met, with one member of staff having not washed their hands after treating a patient in isolation for C. difficile. 

“enable the hospital to take improvement actions”

Furthering that, the inspectors witnessed patients being sedated despite lacking the “capacity to consent”, while care plans were also not being updated to reflect the patients’ changing needs and requirements.  It was also found that medicine was not being locked away, leaving patients to access it whenever they wanted.

The chief inspector of hospitals Professor Sir Mike Richards said the inspection process was still to be finished.  He said that the letter was sent “to enable the hospital to take improvement actions without delay and is not a judgement on the trust”.

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