BMI responds to Alvernia concerns

CQC concerns over BMI Alvernia, BMI Healthcare’s acute independent hospital in central Guildford, caused a stir in the press last month after the hospital suffered a poor report from a Care Quality Commission (CQC). The hospital’s entry on the CQC website currently shows 5 crosses indicating improvements required’ for each of the five domains of Essential Standards of Quality and Safety. Inspections made on 8 January 2013 and 19 December 2012 had raised concerns that standards weren’t being met over consent to care and treatment; care and welfare of people who use services; cleanliness and infection control; saftety and suitability of premises; safety, availability and suitability of equipment and staffing, supporting workers and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision. The CQC said: Most people we spoke with were happy with the care and treatment they were receiving.The majority of people we spoke to had been admitted for planned surgery and were otherwise quite well. When we talked to them they told us about how nice the nurses were and how good the food was. As far as they were concerned there was no cause for complaint. However, the staff we spoke to and the documents and reports we saw highlighted very serious failings. Medical, surgical and some nursing practices at BMI Mount Alvernia hospital were so poor that people were put at significant risk. This risk was, on some occasions, life threatening.