Hospital risks return to special measures

CORNWALL'S main hospital has again been slammed by health inspectors and told to improve promptly or risk going back into special measures.

- OLIVIER VERGNAULT

The Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske in Truro first went into special measures in 2017 after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A year later CQC inspectors kept the hospital in special measures after they found persisting longstanding concerns and did not see any real improvement.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT), which runs Treliske, West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance and St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle, was told it would remain in special measures in 2020 until more improvements had been carried out.

In February 2021 CQC inspectors told the RCHT to improve its surgical services because too many 'never events' were happening rare incidents which can cause injury or suffering. In August 2021, RCHT was told there was still room for more improvement despite inspectors praising the ongoing improvements made to surgical care services.