Hospitals in Morecambe Bay to exit special measures with support
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust is to exit special measures with continued support from Monitor.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMB) is to exit special measures and receive support from Monitor to ensure further improvements are made for its patients.
The trust which was put into special measures in June 2014 has made significant improvements in its A&E and maternity services. To reflect this, Monitor has taken the decision to remove it from special measures.
However, the health regulator believes UHMB needs to make further improvements to the quality and sustainability of some of these services, such as maternity. Monitor will therefore provide additional support and oversight of the trust to ensure this happens.
UHMB will continue to work with the Monitor appointed improvement director on improving quality, particularly in relation to maternity services, by:
- implementing an effective strategic partnership with another healthcare trust or trusts
- promoting effective multi-disciplinary working across the service
- fully implementing the recommendations related to the trust proposed in the Kirkup Investigation Report
The improvement director will also support UHMB in progressing and further developing its trust-wide quality improvement strategy.
Mark Turner, Regional Director at Monitor, said:
The improvements which lead to University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay exiting special measures are great news for the patients, staff and leadership of the trust; and should be welcomed.
However, there is more to be done and we look forward to continuing to work with the trust to support further improvements following its exit from special measures.
UHMB has been in breach of its licence to provide healthcare services since October 2011 and Monitor has taken a number of steps to secure improvements in A&E and maternity services.