King's Lynn hospital trust put in special measures

A hospital trust labelled as high risk has been put in special measures for providing "poor care", the health regulator Monitor said.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust was identified in yesterday's review from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as being a high risk hospital that may not be providing safe care.

Monitor said today the trust displayed "poor care and had weak leadership". It has now appointed a new chair of the board who will oversee a shake-up of the management team, which includes a new chief executive.

In addition, Monitor has appointed an improvement director to help turn the trust around.

The regulator said warnings from the CQC over poor patient care and a report from NHS England highlighting inadequate nurse staffing levels had prompted its intervention.

The trust has also been in breach of its licence over financial issues since April.

The trust is the first to be put into special measures since 11 were put there following a review of failing trusts by NHS medical director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh.

The new chair of King's Lynn will be David Dean, currently vice-chair of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London. He replaces Kate Gordon, who has stepped down.

Manjit Obhrai, who was a key member of the turnaround team at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, has been appointed chief executive.

David Hill, who led the turnaround of neighbouring James Paget University Hospital in Great Yarmouth, has been appointed improvement director.

Stephen Hay, managing director of provider regulation at Monitor, said: "We have been monitoring the performance of this trust for some time, and it is clear that the current leadership of the trust is not the right one to bring about the changes needed.

"That's why we've taken this action, appointing new leadership and bringing in a team that has a wealth of experience.

"Special measures will give the trust the opportunity to start delivering the standard of care patients expect."

PA