Showing posts with label Central Middlesex Hospital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Central Middlesex Hospital. Show all posts

Wednesday 21 June 2023

Man arrested after stabbings at Central Middlesex Hospital

 From Brent Police

Armed officers were among those responding after calls at 13:18hrs on Wednesday, 21 June to reports that two people had been stabbed at Central Middlesex Hospital.

Officers found two people with stab injuries.

The first victim has injuries that are being treated as life-threatening.

The second victim's injuries are not being treated as life-threatening.

Police arrested a man outside the hospital. He has also been conveyed to hospital having received injuries that are believed to be self-inflicted. His condition is being treated as life-threatening.

Officers will remain in the hospital as further searches are conducted but at this time they are satisfied that no one else is sought.

Police are working to establish the circumstances. At this time the incident is not being treated as terror-related.

The hospital was temporarily locked down but has now re-opened and will be operating services as normal. There is a heightened police presence at the hospital while we investigate.

On Twitter Cllr Ketan Sheth, Chair of Scrutiny Committee said:

Shocked and saddened to hear of a stabbing incident at Central Middlesex Hospital… My immediate thoughts are with the patients and the wonderful staff at the hospital. I’m pleased that the incident was swiftly dealt with by the emergency services.


Tuesday 24 January 2023

North West London Integrated Care Systems terminates Urgent Treatment Centre provider's contract at Central Middlesex & Northwick Park sites, along with others

 From the HSJ LINK , by Nick Kituno

An integrated care system has terminated a private provider’s contract to run four urgent treatment centres following performance concerns, HSJ has been told. 

Two local acute trusts were expected to take over from provider Greenbrook Healthcare this week, following the decision by North West London ICS.

The impacted sites include Hillingdon UTC, which is co-located with the Hillingdon Hospitals Foundation Trust, as well as the Ealing, Central Middlesex and Northwick Park sites that are near to the respective hospitals run by London North West University Healthcare Trust.

Two other UTCs on the patch, at St Mary’s and West Middlesex hospitals, are unaffected.

Greenbrook Healthcare is owned by the Totally plc group and its services provided to the NHS include urgent care, planned care and insourcing.

The ICS declined to say why the contract had been ended, but a senior source close to the situation told HSJ it followed performance and staffing concerns.

Winter and performance plans published by the ICS in July and October last year cited performance problems with its UTCs, although it did not mention particular centres.

A report in the summer cited “system wide actions to understand and address weaknesses in UTC performance”, while another in October said a “remedial action plan” was in place “submitted by Totally plc in July 2022, which includes specific actions on staffing performance and re-direction initiatives”.

In a joint statement, North West London ICS and Totally plc told HSJ

“As Greenbrook Healthcare approaches the end of its contracts with commissioners to provide urgent care services via UTCs at Ealing, Northwick Park, Central Middlesex and Hillingdon hospitals, and whilst we agree handover plans to the local NHS trusts, the delivery of excellent patient care remains our joint priority.”

The ICS tendered for the long-term running of the UTCs in November, saying at the time that the new providers expected to be in place from early 2023. The ICS has not yet announced the result of the tender. The £26m contract would run for three years and include an option for a further two.

North West London clinical commissioning group awarded a short-term contract to run the UTCs last year, pending the longer-term procurement exercise.

The developments in north west London follow the Care Quality Commission placing four UTCs run by a different independent provider in the North East London ICS in special measures last month, but this is not directly related to Greenbrook or Totally.

Questions have been raised about the workforce model of UCCs in London.

Monday 11 November 2019

Northwick Park and Central Middlesex hospitals still require improvement - some child services 'Inadequate'

The Care Quality Commission inspected the London NW University Healthcare NHS Trust, which covers Central Middlesex Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital, in the summer.  The report has now been published and makes worrying reading.

Of most concern will be the red light 'Inadequate rating' for three areas of Services for Children and Young People at Central Middlesex Hospital.

The Commission said:
·       We found a lack of clarity over where the overall responsibility and accountability of children and young people services lies within Central Middlesex Hospital. We also found a lack of clarity for how and where this service feeds into the trust. 


·       Governance in children and young people services at Central Middlesex Hospital was weak. The risk register for the recovery ward was out of date. There was a lack of up to date policies and associated audits demonstrating that the care being delivered was compliant [with] national standards and best practice. We were not assured that the service was guided or supported via a paediatric surgical network. 


·       There was no clear evidence that areas from the last inspection for children and young people services had been addressed or necessary improvements made. 


·       In medical care, risks were mitigated and managed but there had been limited action to address risks directly.
·       The senior leadership team for medical care at Central Middlesex Hospital recognised the sometimes poor relationship between its staff and local authority staff, but there had been no action to address this

There were many issues regarding safety. The report says:


·       Our rating of safe stayed the same. We rated it as requires improvement because: 


·       The trust provided mandatory training in key skills however there was some confusion among midwifery staff as to the correct length of mandatory training and its content. Compliance rates for mandatory training and safeguarding training were below trust targets in the surgical services at Northwick Park Hospital and Central Middlesex Hospital. Not all clinical staff in children and young people services at Central Middlesex Hospital caring for children were trained to safeguarding level three however, plans were in place to ensure all staff received this training. 


·       In medical care at Central Middlesex Hospital, some staff did not always report incidents and, in particular, near misses. 


·       The trust did not always control infection risk well. Hand hygiene was not consistently being undertaken in maternity services. In children and young people services, the Rainbow Unit at Central Middlesex Hospital was found to be untidy and we could not be assured that children’s toys were regularly cleaned. 


·       Due to capacity issues in the emergency department at Northwick Park Hospital, patients were still being cared for on trolleys in the corridor which meant private conversations could be overheard. 


·       At our last inspection we found that the clinical decisions unit (CDU) was being used inappropriately to treat level two patients. Whilst the service assured us that this was no longer the case we did find that the area was being used as overflow for patients requiring inpatient beds and patients within the CDU could be there for over four hours and sometimes up to three days. In children and young people services at Central Middlesex Hospital, staff we spoke with in Recovery Stage One told us that children were cared for in a mixed four bedded recovery bay with adults. 


·       Staff at Central Middlesex Hospital did not use a nationally recognised tool to identify deteriorating patients, such as Paediatric Early Warning Signs (PEWS) or a validated acuity score system to assess patients. We were told that not all medical staff had European Paediatric Life Support (EPLS) or Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) training. There was no paediatrician available on-site at Central Middlesex Hospital. Staff had to refer to the consultant of the day or week, who was based at a different hospital in the trust. Some staff were not aware of this arrangement. 


·       Some medicine storage areas did not meet national guidance for security for controlled drugs in the Northwick Park surgical service. 


However:

• Mandatory training compliance rates at Northwick Park and Ealing emergency departments had improved. Staff monitored patients who were at risk of deteriorating appropriately.

 The Commission fournd 'Outstandin Practice' in Urgent and Emergency Care at Northwick Park Hospital:
In Urgent and emergency care at Northwick Park Hospital-
The department had developed a patient sepsis video for parents whose children attend the paediatric emergency department with a fever or suspected infection. The video was a four minute video aiming to educate parents about the warning signs to look out for sepsis. 

The department had done a rotational shift with the local mental health trust. The purpose of this was for staff to get an ideas how the other service was run, learn and share knowledge and understanding to improve the way they worked together.

FULL REPORT HERE
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Friday 9 August 2019

Dawn Butler launches campaign against the overnight closure of Central Middlesex Hospital Urgent Care Centre

Wembley Matters reported on July 2nd that Brent Clinical Commissioing Group was proposing to Close the Central Middlesex Urgent Care Centre overnight (Midnight to 8am) citing lack of use. LINK

Dawn Butler  MP (Brent Central) has now launched a Central Middlesex Hospital Campaign with a petition aimed at preventing the overnight closure LINK

Butler writes
News has broken in recent weeks that Brent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are now intending to cut the hours of operation for the Urgent Care Centre at Central Middlesex Hospital entirely from midnight to 8am, making potential savings in the region of £450,000 per annum.

I have used the Urgent Care Centre late at night and know first-hand that there is an absolute need for this 24 hour service in Brent. I am entirely opposed to cutting the hours of operation and call on the CCG to think again and to put any future proposals to a full public consultation.

If the Urgent Care Centre were to close at night local residents without access to a car will have to travel for anywhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour 20 minutes on public transport in the dead of night.

I therefore call on you to join me in condemning the proposed closure by signing my petition below. I will also continue to keep you updated on the petition and my campaign to put a stop to this proposed closure.

The above link takes you to the petition.

 

Tuesday 2 July 2019

Proposal to reduce hours at Central Middlesex Urgent Care Centre by closing it overnight

Brent NHS Clinical Commissioning Group  is proposing to close the Central Middlesex Hospital Urgent Care Centre, presently available 24/7, from midnight to 8am, saving £450,000 annually in what they admit are financially challenging circumstances.

The service is currently provided by Greenbrooks and the CCG says the provider agrees with the proposal. The CCG health, rather than financial case, is based on low usage and availability of alternative provision:

The data analysis based on “reasons for attendance” showed that from the average of ten (10) patients attending per night, the following would be the appropriate course of action if CMH UCC were to close overnight:
o Less than 1 per night would continue to require ED either urgent treatment or referral to specialty review
o One(1)per night would need to attend an alternative UCC such as Charing Cross, St Mary’s, Ealing or Northwick Park
o Four (4) per night could access an alternative night service such as GP out of hours
o Four (4) per night could access alternative provision, including their own GP, the next day
The UCC was set up in 2014 when the Accident and Emergency service was closed at  Central Middlesex Hospital, despite widespread opposition, which included rather belated opposition from Brent Council.  The overnight closure of the UCC represents a further deterioration of the service currently offered to residents in Harlesden, Park Royal and Stonebridge.

Transport difficulties to alternative A&Es was always a factor in the original campaign against the A&E closure was a major factor so the CCG puts forward the transport timings for residents seeking overnight treatment:

The CCG argue that the change would mean a 'safer urgent and emergency offer by reducing entry points to out of hours services':

The alternative offering being implemented by the CCG will aim to drive down [] inappropriate attendances, helping to provide choice and direction to those seeking advice and care. The majority of attendees overnight are between 20 and 44, the age group most likely to have internet access at home, or own a smartphone, and therefore be best place to benefit from digital signposting.
People arriving out of hours at Central Middlesex will be advised to dial 111.
The report will be considered by Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on July 9th. The full document is HERE
 

Saturday 30 March 2019

We should learn lessons from the huge victory won by Ealing and Charing Cross hospital campaigners



Hammersmith and Fulham Council's campaigning video

Amidst the distraction of the Brexit farrago a statement was slipped out in the House of Commons last Tuesday of great significance for everyone campaigning to save the NHS and against austerity cuts to public services.

The Secretary of State announced the decision with many a swipe at the local MPs (starts with Karen Buck's question):



A key factor in  the campaign was how Hammersmith and Fulham Council got behind the local community and hopsital campaigners and devoted resources to savinf their local hospital A&E. Unfortunately the Shaping the Healthier Future plans that led to the closure of the A&E  at Central Middlesex Hospital, although well fought.,were implemented and the A&E is still missed today, particuarly by residents in the Park Royal, Harlesden and Stonebridge areas.

Save our Hospitals Hammersmith and Fulham said:


The Secretary of Health Matt Hancock announced on March 26th that the closure plans for both Charing Cross and Ealing hospitals contained in the cuts & closures plan known as Shaping A Healthier Future have been withdrawn.  We’ve won. It’s not been easy taking on a well funded posse of spin doctors, management consultants and political ideologues but many thousands of people have done just that and after a 7 year fight we’ve stopped a closure plan that was downright dangerous. Everyone has done their bit whether that’s signing petitions, challenging bureaucrats in meetings, running street stalls, demonstrating, fundraising or delivering & displaying posters. We should feel really proud of ourselves and celebrate our collective achievement.

Of course there are still huge problems: The £30m primary & community cuts planned for H&F, the state of disrepair in our hospitals, on going understaffing & under resourcing coupled with the threat of privatisation by the likes of Babylon and Virgin. Some may have seen the laughable attempts of local conservative MPs and councillors to claim responsibility for a victory they have consistently done their best to sabotage  It’s also true that the government could change it’s mind and come back with new closure plans in the future.

So we’ll have to keep campaigning - we’ve proven today that campaigning works. But for now let’s just celebrate a victory won by lots of different people (including you) working together to Save Charing Cross Hospital.

Kind Regards AD(SOH chair)




Ealing Save Our NHS said:


Finally, the Government has admitted the horrible ‘Shaping a Healthier Future Plan’ (SAHF) is not workable!


Former NHS England chief executive Sir David Nicholson had called these plans “the most significant reconfiguration project in the country”. But since they first announced SAHF plans to cut nine major hospitals in North West London down to five, Ealing Save Our NHS has been campaigning against it side by side with many others including Save Our Hospitals Charing Cross and the Councils in Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham. SAHF spent tens of millions of pounds of NHS cash on management consultants. All for nothing. 

Now Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, has announced the Department of Health no longer supports it. Ealing Save Our NHS has distributed a quarter of a million leaflets, held protests, attended carnivals, organised parties, lobbies, petitions, car convoys and much more to spell out the truth. On the other side huge amounts of NHS money was spent on public relations staff and glossy leaflets to pretend that our health would mysteriously be improved if they closed A&E’s and hundreds of beds. It didn’t work.


So what will happen now? Ealing Save Our NHS will keep on campaigning. This disastrous SAHF plan has seen the closure of two local A&Es, Central Middlesex and Hammersmith, as well as the closure of Ealing A&E to children. As a direct consequence, waiting times for Type 1 urgent A&E visits increased greatly. Ealing Hospital’s excellent maternity department was also closed, forcing Ealing mothers to travel long distances and negatively effecting continuity of care for many.


But health bosses appear to have learned nothing and continue to defend the indefensible. Mark Easton, the head of the North West London Clinical Commissioning Groups, in announcing the death of SAHF has just made the mind-boggling claim that maternity care and emergency paediatric care have improved. This is certainly not the view of local parents whose local services have closed. Ealing Hospital remains seriously underfunded and in crisis. But at least there is a ray of sunshine, the horrible plan underlying all these cuts has gone and we can focus on calling for proper funding and restoration of local health services.

Dr Tony O’Sullivan, Co-Chair of Keep Our NHS Public added,


This is a very important victory for the people of Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham. Campaigners must be proud of themselves for standing up for the NHS and their local communities for 7 long years – with integrity, skill and huge impact. Elections unseated the council backing closure of Charing Cross and the Ealing MP backing government attacks on the local NHS and public services. Campaigners won the local councils to their side and refused to give in to the irresponsible plans of ‘Shaping A Healthier Future’ in North West London. Well done and thank you. The battles are not over. We are with you in your fight to restore the damage done and win back maternity and children’s services in Ealing Hospital.


Hammersmith and Fulham Council said:


We did it together! The government has finally been forced to retreat on closing Charing Cross Hospital.


Thanks to Save Our Hospitals campaigners, Michael Mansfield QC (who ran the independent commission that provided such unchallengable evidence against the plans) and to the many, many residents who have fought with us so hard and for so long.


Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan says: “This is a huge validation of Michael Mansfield QC’s findings and a huge victory for the Save Our Hospitals campaign. Thank you to all the residents who worked with us to save Charing Cross Hospital.”


Statement from North West London CCG (26 March 2019): “We will not be taking forward the plans as set out in SaHF for changes to Ealing and Charing Cross hospitals.”

What was planned?


We’ve won the battle to save Charing Cross Hospital from proposals to demolish most of it and replace its A&E with an urgent care clinic – leaving just 13 per cent the size of the original hospital.


·      We joined forces with local residents and with Ealing Council, who have been fighting the closure of Ealing Hospital

·      We commissioned a public inquiry led by Michael Mansfield QC that has provided a strong evidence base for why the proposals are wrong. Read the full report here.

·      We’ve refused to sign the ‘North West London STP’ – because it restates the plan to reduce acute services from nine major hospitals to five.

·      We commissioned a review of the NHS proposals and the STP – Read the review (pdf 4MB).

·      We’ve held scrutiny meetings to publicly quiz NHS managers on their plans

·      We’ve invited local people to public meetings, rallies and demonstrations

·      We’ve presented petitions and published individual residents’ own experiences and stories

·      We’ve kept local people updated on the campaign through letters, leaflets, posters and social media.


The current much-loved Charing Cross Hospital was to be replaced with an urgent care centre, diagnostics and out-patients only.


The NHS plan included:

·      Demolishing the current Charing Cross Hospital and selling off most the site

·      Replacing the current Charing Cross Hospital with a series of clinics on a site no more than 13 per cent the size of the current hospital

·      Replacing the current A&E with an urgent care clinic

·      Losing more than 300 and possibly all the acute care beds

·      The detail on the proposals is in the NHS Case for Change.



CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED