A TASK force is being sent into hospitals in Lincolnshire after it emerged more than 400 people died because of poor care, staff shortages and bad management.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT), which runs the Louth Hospital, is one of the 11 to be placed in special measures because of a higher than expected death rate.
The report into ULHT reveals how inspectors found:
Inadequate staffing levels and poor work force planning at ULHT
A disconnect between leadership at board level and at clinical levels
Lack of clarity around escalation procedures
Concerns about how staff filled in Do Not Resuscitate orders.
The review also deemed that the patient experience was not at the heart of the organisation and that the trust's complaints process was "not fit for purpose".
In response, the trust said it would be carrying out a review of complaints procedures and would replace it within four weeks.
ULHT's chief executive, Jane Lewington, said: "The safety and quality of patient care is our top priority.
"We have always seen the review as an opportunity to continue our journey of improvement. The review has helped to ensure that our efforts are targeting the changes that will make the most impact on patient care. Therefore we fully accept the findings.
"Patients are the very heart of everything we do, but others are doing better and therefore we need to learn from them."Read the full statement here
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