hospital patients are being potentially put at risk by an over-dependence on agency nurses, according to a health report.

The report, by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) on the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, covers the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, and the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove.

It states that agency nurses are sometimes running wards on their own in some clinical areas, including orthopaedics and chest medicine. The report adds that although this is rare, it is a potential risk to patients. However, the situation with staff recruitment and retention is improving since the significant loss of staff when the trust merged three years ago.

CHI chief executive Peter Homa said: "Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is developing an action plan in response to this report and once implemented, the quality of patient care should improve even further."

The report adds that poor security at the accident and emergency department of the Alexandra Hospital has resulted in staff suffering verbal and physical abuse. But it was noted that security was good at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Staff are highly motivated and committed but the report also discovered that some feel pressured when asked to undertake some tasks.