Sue Ryder is very disappointed with the CQC report into Wheatfields Hospice
Sue Ryder is very disappointed with the CQC report into Wheatfields Hospice, which we believe is misleading and unnecessarily alarming.
The hospice is in an ongoing period of improvement, but we challenge a significant number of the CQC’s findings as factually inaccurate. In addition, the process of the inspection, the behaviours of the inspector and the lack of context and selectivity have created serious concerns over the report’s integrity.
Our own quality assurance and safety controls identified areas that required improvement during a comprehensive internal review last year, following a proactive decision temporarily to close, and the CQC was informed of our findings. Those included poor behaviours amongst some staff and concerns regarding their clinical practice, which resulted in a formal investigation and several employees at all levels of the service leaving the organisation.
A new leadership team was appointed and the improvements led by that team over the last 12 months demonstrate Sue Ryder’s staunch adherence to our responsibilities as a responsible provider and our commitment to a significant development programme at Wheatfields, focused on patient care.
At no point have we found evidence to suggest that any patients received unsafe care. The safety of our patients is paramount and when we were unable to secure safe staffing levels last year we temporarily closed the inpatient unit. We would not hesitate to do the same again if we felt it necessary.
The CQC report mentions understaffing of the inpatient unit, but during the period referenced, there were four shifts out of 453 (0.88%) where we were one staff member down due to last minute sickness. Mitigation plans were put in place, including the leadership team stepping in to support colleagues.
Sue Ryder has had a strong working relationship with the CQC for many years and respects them as our regulator. However, despite attempts to work constructively with them during this inspection process, we have sadly been left with no choice but to seek legal advice in relation to this report and what we feel is a shockingly inaccurate assessment of Wheatfields Hospice.