Inspectors find Weston General Hospital is failing to maintain its patients' dignity
A HOSPITAL is failing to always maintain the privacy and dignity of its patients, inspectors have found.
Patients also complained that Weston General Hospital in Weston- super-Mare appeared to be short staffed, according to the report published by health regulator the Care Quality Commission today.
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Weston General Hospital
Inspectors also found urine bottles were on patients' bedside tables and said ward rounds and cleaning continued at lunchtime.
Patient dignity was "not always maintained", the inspectors said.
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Weston General and South Bristol Community Hospital were among the 50 hospitals across the country inspected under the CQC's dignity and nutrition inspection programme.
They found that fewer hospitals were respecting people's privacy and dignity, with 82 per cent meeting people's needs, down from 88 per cent in 2011.
Weston General was failing to meet five of the required standards when inspectors visited last August.
It was one of only nine hospitals found to be failing to respect the people who use their services and one of 16 where patient records were not "accurate, kept safe or confidential".
Inspectors found that while staff were "compassionate, considerate and respectful" and provided care in a "patient and calm manner" people were given tissues rather than hand wipes prior to eating and there were reports of staff raising their voices at night on Harptree West ward.
In their report the inspectors said that the urine bottles they had noted were clean, adding that it was "patient choice to keep them where they were".
The CQC team also highlighted staffing issues in their report.
"Patients and staff we spoke with told us that they felt there often were not enough staff," inspectors said. "Patient comments included; staff were 'hard pressed' and the staff 'work hard but are often slow to answer the bell'."
Bristol Community Hospital, which opened almost a year ago, was found to be meeting all the required standards during the inspection.
CQC chief executive David Behan said: "We found good care and care that had improved.
"However, it is disappointing people are still not being given enough privacy when receiving personal care and that they are left alone when they call for help.
"This is basic care and getting it right can transform a stressful experience for an older person into a supportive and caring one."
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