The medical care service at the Royal United hospital in has been recorded as 'requires improvement ' down from 'good' following an unplanned Care Quality Commission CQC inspection.

The hospital was checked in July after a report of some concerns about care, specifically elderly care.

The report says inspectors went into the hospital on 27 July 2023 "because we had received information of concern regarding the safety and quality of the medical care (including older people's care) core service. "

There are 12 medical inpatient wards at the Royal United Hospital site, with a total of 381 beds and it was care involving these patients that inspectors have said today (October 18) required improvement.

At the last main inspection in June 2018, the CQC rated the trust overall as good and medical care was also rated good.

A RUH spokesperson told Nub News (October 19) "The CQC undertook an unannounced inspection of Medical Care (including older people's care) at Royal United Hospitals Bath in July 2023.

"We welcome the report and we are fully committed to making the improvements identified in their report supported by a robust action plan. The Trust has already started work on the improvements required.

"We were pleased that the report also identified many positives, inspectors praised the 'outstanding programme' for international nurses, our ability to manage patient safety incidents well and the way managers and ward leaders were supported to make the wards a welcoming place to work.

"Inspectors noted that our Medical Care Service 'had enough medical staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep patients safe from avoidable harm and to provide the right care and treatment'. "The CQC also acknowledged that we have a strong vision and strategy developed in partnership with the people we care for, the people we work with and the people in our community.

"The RUH is committed to being an organisation where everyone matters and we would like to reassure patients that our staff remain fully committed to providing the very best standards of care at all times."

According to the BBC the report also said the hospital's care and treatment plans, in particular fluid charts, were completed inconsistently and the design, maintenance and use of facilities, premises and equipment did not always keep people safe.

It also found it lacked storage space, did not meet the trust's targets for cleaning audits and some wards required maintenance work.