THE NHS which runs Kidderminster Hospital will remain in special measures after yet another damning report by health watchdogs.

A Care Quality Commission report published today reveals that Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is still rated as ‘inadequate’ with a recommendation to extend the special measures it was placed in back in December 2015.

Inspectors said urgent action needed to be taken to improve the situation at the Trust.

Trust chiefs said they were disappointed but accepted the findings but would continue to work on improvements that it has already started to implement.

The CQC has recommended a three to six month extension of the special measures to allow the new management team – which started coming in from September last year – more time to drive the urgent improvements needed.

Unannounced inspections were carried out at Kidderminster, Worcestershire Royal and Alexandra Hospitals - which were all rated as inadequate - on December 7, 8 and 15. These followed an inspection of the trust from November 22-25.

It was given an overall rating for inadequate with serious concerns being raised for it being safe, responsive and well led. It also rated the Trust as ‘requires improvement’ for being effective but did say the area of caring was ‘good’.

CQC had also issued a warning notice as significant improvements were required in relation to staffing levels, governance, investigation of clinical incidents and culture. Inspectors have been back to review and a report is expected in late July.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said: “We found a number of serious problems when we inspected the services run by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Rather than getting better, our latest inspection shows a noticeable decline in ratings.

“The trust has been in special measures since December 2015 with little evidence of improvement to date. For this reason I have recommended an extension of special measures as a new executive team has recently been put in place.

“During our December inspection, we rated the trust inadequate for safety, responsiveness and being well-led.

“This is extremely concerning, both in terms of the quality of care that people can expect from the trust, and for what it says about the trust’s ability to improve.

“This situation must not be allowed to continue and we are considering, along with partner agencies, the best option available in order to improve services rapidly for the local population.”

Trust chief executive Michelle McKay said: “We are disappointed with the CQC’s findings, but we fully accept them.

“I am sorry our patients, their families and carers have been let down. We want all our patients to get the best care possible and regret that this isn’t currently always happening, but we’re determined to put things right.

“Whilst we have made improvements since the last inspection - our children’s and maternity services have improved - we recognise we still have some way to go.

“I am pleased that the reports acknowledge that we are a caring organisation, rating care across our hospitals as ‘good’, and our end of life care as ‘good’. Our staff continue to deliver compassionate care to the thousands of patients who use our services every day.”