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

As reported in your Worcester News, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said there were “major” concerns about patient nutrition at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Some patients were left without food and water and served food when they were asleep.

Trays were not always placed within easy reach, putting them at risk of “poor nutrition and dehydration”.

Some patients were forced to eat with their fingers because there were no staff around to help them cut their food.

Concerns were also raised about the privacy and dignity of patients, including confidential matters being discussed by staff in front of other patients and visitors.

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 – after the visit by the CQC on Tuesday, March 22, and across Worcestershire hospitals to ensure standards were raised.

As we previously reported, Mr Turner personally apologised to the people of Worcestershire following the publication of the report on Thursday, May 26.

He repeated his apology at a meeting of the trust board, which runs the Alexandra, Worcestershire Royal and Kidderminster hospitals, yesterday and said the independent review was to ensure improvements were sustained.

“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,”

said Mr Turner.

Immediate improvements include protected meal times when patients cannot be disturbed and unannounced visits by members of the board, patient groups or members of NHS Worcestershire.

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

It will be undertaken by independent reviewer Professor Janice Stevens.

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.

Public shadow governor for Wychavon David Allison, who has a nursing background, said: “This is a prudent and appropriate course of action to take in light of the importance of the issues.”