The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body responsible for hospital inspections, has found that Bedford Hospital met each of the 4 quality and safety standards assessed during an unannounced inspection in August.
The news will come as a major boost ahead of a highly anticipated report which will identify proposals for the future of services at Bedford Hospital and Milton Keynes Hospital. Healthcare commissioners have previously unveiled 5 options for the future of services at both Hospitals, 3 of which could see services such as A & E, maternity and paediatrics reduced at Bedford whilst services would be retained at Milton Keynes. The new report is expected to narrow down the options further.
The Bedford Borough Conservative Group sees the recent inspection as a landmark in consolidating Bedford Hospital’s status as a hospital providing high quality and safe services to local residents. In July the CQC attributed a higher risk rating to services at Milton Keynes than was given to Bedford Hospital. This assessment was ‘based on the likelihood that people may not be receiving safe, effective, high quality care’. Specific concerns were noted for Milton Keynes’ A & E waiting times and stroke unit response times.
The Council’s Conservative Group also has deep concerns about Milton Keynes Hospital’s finances after a spending deficit of £17m was reported in 2013/14. The Hospital has estimated that this will increase to £29.6m by 2015/16.
Conservative Cllr Roger Rigby, the Group’s Health spokesperson said:
‘The Conservative Group feels that our priority should be Bedford Hospital first. The CQC’s findings show that services at Bedford Hospital are currently safer and better quality than at Milton Keynes Hospital.
‘Most hospitals have their financial difficulties but Milton Keynes’ situation is particularly worrying given the huge deficit reported last year which is set to get much worse by 2015/16. It is clear to the lay person that savage cuts will be required in order for the Hospital to break even.
‘Bedford Hospital has seen remarkable improvements in the past year and that is down to the hard work of staff. The Conservative Group shares the strongly held view of residents who want to continue to access high quality, safe services on their doorstep.’