AN independent review is to be carried out across Worcestershire hospitals into patient dignity and nutrition following a damning report into standards of care for the elderly.

The report, published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) last Thursday, said there were “major” concerns about patient nutrition at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Moderate concerns were also raised about the privacy and dignity of patients.

Harry Turner, chairman of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said immediate action was put in place on wards five and 11 - the subjects of the inspection - following the visit by the CQC inspection team on Tuesday, March 22 and across Worcestershire hospitals to ensure standards were raised immediately.

At a meeting of the trust board Mr Turner said the aim of the independent review is to ensure that the immediate actions put in place along with additional actions announced during the meeting are sustainable.

“It remains a fact that we have let down our patients, community and ourselves and we need to get to the bottom of why we weren’t compliant with these standards, and importantly, why we didn’t know we weren’t compliant,” he said.

Other actions to be implemented immediately include strengthening the trust’s Quality Assurance Committee to include a scrutiny role, improving patient feedback systems and introducing greater scrutiny through ward safety visits.

The independent review is to be commissioned by the board on behalf of a working group comprising two non executive directors, one of whom shall be chairman, and three shadow governors.

It will be facilitated by independent reviewer Professor Janice Stevens CBE MA RGN, a former director of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HCAI) and Mixed Sex Accommodation at the Department of Health.

The feedback and recommendations will go to the working group, shadow council of governors and then the public trust board by the end of June.

David Allison, public shadow governor for the Wychavon Constituency, who has a nursing background, said: “I think that this is a prudent and appropriate course of action to take in light of the importance of the issues.”