Addenbrooke's: Regulator Steps In

23 November 2012, 11:14 | Updated: 23 November 2012, 11:26

A healthcare regulator has stepped in at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, after the hospital failed to meet successive targets including cancer treatment waiting times.

According to Monitor, Addenbrooke's has also missed a number of targets relating to performance in its Accident and Emergency department.

The regulator says its concerns were compounded by "...multiple occurrences of preventable patient safety incidents (referred to as ‘never events’) and poor financial performance."

Cambridge University NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, which runs Addenbrooke's, missed its target to treat 85% of cancer patients referred by their GP within 62 days.

Only 72% of cancer patients were seen within this timescale.

Monitor adds that this target has been missed at Addenbrooke's in 'seven of the last eight quarters'.

The other target recently missed refers to the amount of time the hospital takes to see and treat patients within the Accident and Emergency department.

This target has been missed for two quarters in a row.

Monitor has told Addenbrooke's to carry out a review into the effectiveness and governance of its board.

It has also told the hospital to appoint an 'experienced turnaround expert' to the board.

Managing Director of Provider Regulation, Stephen Hay said: "This is not the first time we have called the Trust in to explain itself. We are disappointed that the Board has not resolved these issues.

We note the Trust has a new chair and will shortly appoint a new chief executive. We expect them to demonstrate they are getting the Trust back on track as quickly as possible."

The hospital now says it is 'determined to improve'.

Chairman of the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trist Jane Ramsey, said: "We take Monitor’s concerns very seriously and we are determined to reverse the situation as soon as possible. 

My top priority, as the new chairman, will be to get to grips with these performance issues with my team and we will be setting up a taskforce to swiftly get back on track. 

We will be focussing on turning this Trust around, so once more we can be justifiably proud of our record as one of the leading Trusts in the country.

We are working to improve our performance on meeting targets every month but we know we could do better. 

We are treating more people than ever before and our health outcomes are amongst the best in the country. 

I am committed to retaining this achievement but also to meeting the standards that are required. 

Our priority remains the care of our patients – they are at the heart of everything we do."