A trust battling allegations it led a \u201cwitch-hunt\u201d to try and identify a whistleblower has today been stripped of its \u201coutstanding\u201d rating by the Care Quality Commission. The critical assessment of West Suffolk Foundation Trust, which is now rated \u201crequires improvement\u201d overall, is the latest significant blow for the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once among the sector\u2019s top performers, it is now facing fundamental questions about its leaders\u2019 conduct and its overall performance. It is very unusual for a provider to drop two ratings from a single inspection, and the change makes West Suffolk one of a very small number of trusts which have earned then lost an \u201coutstanding\u201d rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rating downgrade follows ministers ordering NHS England and Improvement to launch a \u201crapid and independent\u201d review into WSFT following concerns over how it handled an alleged \u201cwitch-hunt\u201d for a whistleblower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rinesh Parmar, chair of the Doctors\u2019 Association UK, which campaigns for better working conditions for doctors, said: \u201cThe CQC\u2019s findings have sadly tallied with what doctors on the frontline have told us, in particular, that ongoing patient safety concerns raised by clinicians have been dealt with in such a manner that staff no longer feel able to speak up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDespite this, dedicated staff at West Suffolk have spoken tirelessly of their commitment to patients, and we hope now that this report, in combination with the recently commissioned rapid review, will be the start of positive change within the trust.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n