After a series of “inadequate” ratings, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has placed the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust in special measures.
UNISON South West regional organiser Siobhan Brown said:
“People in Cornwall deserve good healthcare, but the CQC report is a damning and sad reflection that they aren’t receiving it. The NHS is under unprecedented strain, which has resulted in the trust being overloaded and delivering inadequate care.
“Special measures are required so the right resources are directed effectively. The trust needs to deliver the standard of service that patients deserve and staff want to deliver.
“Long-term underfunding of the NHS and cuts to council budgets are making it harder to deliver good services. Inadequate social care is hitting the Trust and there are recruitment and retention issues because of the extreme pressure on staff. The government requires the Trust to provide more services without the resources to do so.
“Staff care desperately about the work they do. They want to deliver the best care for Cornwall. The trust needs to have open conversations with staff, design an improvement plan with them and implement it to turn the situation around.
“Union representatives will play a crucial part in turning these plans into action. The trust needs to provide our stewards with the time and information to support the delivery of the substantial improvements required.”
If you’re a UNISON member working for RCHT and have any questions about the special measures decision, contact us
