CQC found ‘numerous incidents of lost data’ and incorrect patient records
The CQC has found the Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s ‘poor’ IT infrastructure for adult community health services had an impact on management of care, placing the organisation in special measures.
The watchdog rated services as ‘inadequate’ following inspections carried out in late 2016 and early 2017.
Patient records were found to be incomplete and ‘non-contemporaneous’, while there were ‘numerous incidents of lost data’ and incorrect information found within the staff workload and dependency tool database; delays in updating records were reportedly prompted by a lack of ‘IT connectivity’.
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“Patients records within the community were not sufficiently well managed to keep patients safe. Staff did not always contemporaneously update paper records, there was delayed and incomplete recording of records and patient’s risk assessments,” states the CQC report.
Community staff, however, had access to an electronic reporting tool, with training being provided to ensure appropriate use of the system, although they did report they had ‘poor IT signal’.
“Due to the lack of a stable IT network, duplication of workload had to take place. Staff could not access caseload data, emails or report incidents through an electronic system whilst with the patient on site. Instead, staff scanned and saved the patient daily care record pages as a historical record,” the investigation uncovered.
Telemedicine used by patients
However, the trust had introduced tele-monitoring technologies to improve care for patients with long-term conditions, while teams dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were using 20 telemedicine kits.
Incident investigations previously identified the IT infrastructure as a ‘major problem’; even so, the CQC found ‘no plan’ for transformation was set in place at the time of their inspections, although funding was already set aside.
The trust’s Chair, Eve Richardson, said in a statement they accept the report ‘without reservation’: “We have let down our patients and our local community and on behalf of the Trust board and our staff I apologise unreservedly for this failure,” she added.
The trust’s Chief Executive, Karen Baker, stepped down earlier this year, with Dr Mark Pugh, Executive Medical Director, taking over the role on an interim basis.
“We now have to ensure that we improve leadership throughout the organisation from board level through to service level.
“We are receiving valuable assistance from our new Improvement Director, Philippa Slinger, who has been appointed by NHS Improvement to support the Trust and we have already begun work on the development of a robust and achievable plan for major and rapid improvement,” added Dr Pugh in a statement.
Date: April 13, 2017