Home / Health / Countess of Chester Hospital Receives Urgent Warning Over Unsafe Emergency Care
Countess of Chester Hospital Receives Urgent Warning Over Unsafe Emergency Care
8 Aug
Summary
- Emergency care at Countess of Chester Hospital falls short of legal standards
- Inspectors found "visibly dirty equipment" and "critical gaps" in sepsis treatment
- Hospital issued urgent warning notice for repeated breaches in emergency care unit
According to a recent inspection, the emergency care services at the Countess of Chester hospital in northwest England are falling far short of legal standards. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the healthcare watchdog, has issued an urgent warning notice to the hospital after finding "repeated breaches" of regulations in its emergency care unit.
The CQC rated the hospital's A&E department as "inadequate" and the overall emergency services as "requires improvement." Inspectors uncovered a range of concerning issues, including "visibly dirty equipment," poor infection control, overcrowding, and prolonged handover times. They also found that "corridor care" had become normalized, compromising the dignity and safety of patients.
Notably, the report highlighted "critical gaps" in the hospital's sepsis treatment and mental health risk assessments. As of June 2024, the hospital was only treating 59% of sepsis patients within the recommended one-hour timeframe, far below the 84% target.
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The Countess of Chester hospital, where convicted murderer Lucy Letby previously worked, has been given a stern warning to address these longstanding problems that continue to put patients at risk. The hospital's chief executive has acknowledged the need for immediate action and sustainable improvements to deliver the care patients deserve.
