HOSPITAL bosses have raised concerns that one in five members of staff would not recommend South Warwickshire Foundation Trust (SWFT) as a place to receive care.
The trust – which runs Warwick, Leamington, Stratford and Shipston hospitals, along with providing care in the community – recently held a staff survey which returned mostly positive feedback and had results which were among the best in the country.
But chairman Russell Hardy was disappointed to discover nearly 20 per cent of the workforce said they would not recommend the trust as a place to receive treatment.
This figure is still lower than the national average – which sees nearly 30 per cent of staff not recommend their trust – but SWFT say they will look at what staff issues and worries are.
Mr Hardy said: “It is important the trust continues to recognise areas of improvement and understand the detail behind the staff survey, because 17 per cent of staff not recommending the trust as a place for care is not satisfactory.”
The trust say out of hospital care is one area which needs looking at and that they will be working to ensure improvements are made.
And chief executive Glen Burley is still delighted with the results, which have continuously been positive and this year at their best yet.
He said: “Our organisation is our staff. An engaged, motivated workforce is key to providing first class care and that’s why we place a lot of emphasis on listening to all our staff and welcome feedback from the staff survey every year.
“I am delighted with these results and extremely proud of the talented, compassionate and committed teams we employ at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust. Their dedication helps us to deliver fantastic care in our hospitals and within the community every day.”
The survey results come weeks after it was revealed SWFT would keep its ‘requiring improvement’ rating given by healthcare inspectors the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Following an inspection last year the trust was rated ‘good’ in the caring and responsive categories. But in safety, effectiveness and well-led categories the trust was marked as requiring improvement.
It led to it being rated as ‘requiring improvement’ overall which trust bosses disagreed with, and after making several changes they appealed the grading.
But they have recently been told that they will keep the rating, despite the CQC admitting there was some ‘harsh rating judgements’ in their report and an independent reviewer saying they could re-inspect the service.
SWFT have now called for a re-inspection, which the CQC say will be carried out ‘as soon as possible’.
