Southmead Hospital gets 'good' rating from inspectors

Inspectors found no cause for concern after an investigation at Southmead Hospital, following reports of issues with the training of staff.

The Care Quality Commission published its findings of an unannounced site visit in January, when two medical and surgical wards and the intensive care unit at Southmead Hospital were reviewed in response to ‘concerns received about the training of current staff and whether the trust ensured all new staff received ongoing training.’ During this inspection, CQC did not find evidence of the concerns.

The report stated that the trust was ‘there was a culture of safety and learning’ based on ‘openness, transparency and learning from events that had either put people and staff at risk of harm, or that had caused harm.’

The report stated: “Lessons were learned from safety incidents or complaints, resulting in changes that improved care for others. There was joined up multidisciplinary working to maintain safe systems of care.”

It added that: “Staff knew what incidents to report and how to report them. They raised concerns and reported incidents and near misses in line with the organisation’s policy. Staff said they were encouraged to report incidents promptly. Staff felt confident these would be investigated appropriately. We saw evidence learning from incidents was shared with staff. We observed good examples of staff’s positive attitudes towards safety. Current risks were regularly discussed and safety to both patients and staff was prioritised. Staff understood the duty of candour and gave patients and families a full explanation and apology when things went wrong.”

It added: “There was a clear policy to guide staff to identify and report incidents. Managers investigated incidents and shared lessons learned with the whole team and the wider service. The trust had also shared learning with neighbouring trusts. When things went wrong, staff apologised and gave patients and families honest information and suitable support.”

It also praised the trust for its multidisciplinary meetings to discus all patients and improve there care, and their understanding of the needs of patients and making observations in a timely manner.

It added that: “The service had enough nursing and medical staff with the right qualifications, skills and training to keep patients safe and provide the right care and treatment.”

The Chief Nursing Officer had written to external agencies to reinforce the expectations of staff working at the trust. Internationally trained nurses received support from UK trained nurses.

Managers regularly assess and adjust staffing levels, integrating both full-time and bank staff who have been trained in the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) system, which is essential for monitoring deteriorating patients.

To support new or internationally trained nurses, the service has established a structured escalation process, enabling them to promptly refer critical cases to senior nurses and, if necessary, medical staff. Staff consistently report being trained and confident in applying NEWS2 protocols, with some wards spotlighting this training as "training of the month" and displaying accessible resources for further guidance.

The CQC reported that significant staffing enhancements since 2022 have strengthened patient care. The trust hired 250 internationally educated nurses and 335 senior healthcare support workers, many of whom have undergone extensive training in patient observations and managing deteriorating conditions. Additionally, senior leadership has strategically enhanced care processes by adding consultants to trauma wards, facilitating earlier intervention and problem identification.