Stafford Hospital gets the all-clear

INSPECTORS have lifted all of their concerns over Stafford Hospital – handing bosses a huge boost as they look to reopen the A&E department around the clock.

The Care Quality Commission said standards at the scandal-hit hospital were now up to scratch. Moderate concerns had been downgraded to minor in November.

But an unannounced return visit convinced the watchdog all essential standards were being met.

Chief executive Lyn Hill-Tout said the new findings were confirmation the hospital was "well on the way" to recovery.

The minor concerns cited in the CQC's last report in November related to the unsafe management of medicines. But inspectors were satisfied procedures had improved when they visited last month.

And their overall judgement was: "Stafford Hospital was meeting all the essential standards of quality and safety inspected."

Mrs Hill-Tout said today: "We are delighted to have confirmation from the CQC that we meet all of the standards they expect. This will be a real boost to staff morale and will encourage staff to continue to improve the care we provide.

"We are not complacent, we know that we still don't get it right every time for every patient but this report is confirmation that we are definitely well on the way."

The board which runs Stafford Hospital is aiming to reopen A&E overnight in October, 10 months after the unit was closed at night due to fears over patient safety amid staff shortages.