THERE have been two incredibly important events occurring this this week, one local and one on the international stage and both of which require comment.
Firstly, this week saw the long-awaited publication by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) into the running of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes the Alex in Redditch.
And the results were damning. Inspectors found the Trust needs to make urgent improvements in several areas to ensure it is delivering care which is safe, effective and responsive to people’s needs. Furthermore, they recommended that WAHT should be placed into special measures after the inspection rated it ‘inadequate’. An Improvement Director will remain in place until further decisions are taken.
Inspectors said they had concerns about staffing in some areas, resulting in an over-reliance on temporary staff and locum doctors. And in the emergency department, consultant cover did not meet with Royal College of Emergency Medicine workforce recommendations, while waiting times were still not meeting national standards.
I am not surprised to see the Trust being placed into special measures as it is what we asked Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to do three weeks ago. This is a significant step, but clearly necessary for patient safety. I will be meeting the CQC’s Chief Inspector of hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, along with the Trust Development Authority and other local MPs shortly to see what the way forward actually is.
Incidentally, the care itself was rated ‘good’ and I want to thank the staff for all their hard work in very challenging times.
Now a few thousand miles away in Syria. I have always made my position clear on this matter. Although it was compelling to hear the arguments on both sides in the Commons this week, it is my firm conviction the UK should join air strikes, however I also agree that we should not act alone. There has to be a coherent international strategy on Daesh, using every resource available - military as well as diplomatic, political and humanitarian.
But at the end of the day Daesh are bombing, raping and torturing their way into the lives of every day, peace-loving people and this cannot be allowed to happen unchallenged. Of course I listened sympathetically to the views of my constituents before the vote, but it is my firm view that sometimes you have to be brave enough to take firm action against such outright evil. I voted for air strikes before and did so again this week.
If of course you would like to speak to me about anything please either send me an e-mail at [email protected] or give me a call on 01527 591334. As ever you can also keep up to date with my whereabouts on Twitter and on Facebook.
Best wishes
Karen