Medical regulator places hospital in form of ‘special measures’ after concerns about patient handover
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: IAN BURT
A hospital is being scrutinised by a regulator over concerns about the safety of patients.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn (QEH) has been placed under 'enhanced monitoring' and told to deliver an action plan after an inspection last year by Health Education East.
The body warned there was a risk that acutely ill patients were being 'lost' because of a decrease in handover efficiency between staff, but Dorothy Hosein, chief executive of QEH said the problem was caused by the hospital's patient tracking system.
She said at no time did clinicians fail to deliver safe and appropriate care. The GMC has confirmed that the hospital's action plan is appropriate and it is satisfied work is under way to resolve the issue.
However as a result regulator the General Medical Council (GMC) has included the QEH among 79 hospitals across England that it will monitor.
The step is described by GMC chief executive Niall Dickson as 'a form of special measures'.
Ms Hosein said: 'Our patient tracking systems were failing to keep up to date with patient movements.
Most Read
- 1 'God's waiting room' - Norfolk town is country's pensioner hotspot
- 2 Former vicarage set in one acre is up for sale - and it needs some TLC
- 3 Thetford homes left with 'significant' damage following blaze
- 4 Star-studded line-up announced for free Norfolk festival
- 5 RAF flypast to pass through Norfolk's skies
- 6 Norfolk's 100 Jubilee street parties revealed
- 7 World record? 24 ducklings spotted waddling through Norfolk village
- 8 George Ezra to host album launch show in Norwich
- 9 Person banned from driving arrested after crashing into pedestrian crossing
- 10 'Long-awaited in the area' - New Norfolk deli celebrates local produce
'We have implemented more robust clinical handovers and further manual system checks.
'We are confident this issue has been resolved.'
The GMC has said it would visit the hospital later this year to check that necessary improvements had been made.