Former patients have said the hospital ‘saved their life’
People have praised a Liverpool hospital after a report found that it “lacks staff” to meet the needs of patients, following an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in March.
An inspection into medical care at Aintree University Hospital, part of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has found the hospital does not always have enough staff to deliver care and that people were not always cared for in the right place.
Following the visit, a report published today found the overall rating for medical care is unchanged, and remains ‘requires improvement’ as are the ratings for safe, effective, responsive and well-led. Caring was not rated at this inspection and remains rated as good. The overall rating for Aintree University Hospital, and Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, remains as requires improvement.
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However, people have hit back at the report claiming the care they, or their loved ones, have received from the hospital has been nothing but good.
Jenny Farrell said: “I’m 47 and had a massive stroke on October 29 and came home [from Aintree hospital] yesterday. The care I received was amazing and I can’t thank the NHS enough. Yes, they’re under staffed but the staff that do work there are literally running on empty and go above and beyond to care for their patients.
“I will be eternally grateful because without them I wouldn’t be here with my four kids and partner. From consultants, nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, cleaners, caterers, tea lady, porters, scanners, x-ray people, pharmacy staff and phlebotomists, they’re all brilliant and saved my life.”
Julie Price also said: “Absolutely brilliant with me when I was in for two weeks [at the] beginning of this year. [I] could tell the poor staff were overworked but [they] never let it stop them treating their patients with the care they deserve, bless them all.”
Paul Robinson added: “I’ve been in Aintree and the Royal three times [in the] last two years I couldn’t have been treated any better by staff, nurses, surgeons, consultants, tea ladies, porters, 10/10 all of them, amazing with me.”
Another former patient, Susan Parting Ton, said: “They were absolutely brilliant with me when I was in there. ” Sue Spencer OKeefe wrote: “They were brilliant with me when I was in hospital for a month.”
Joanna Hughes also said: “Staff in the Critical Care Unit were absolutely amazing whilst looking after my mum earlier this year. She passed away, but they looked after her with such care and dignity.”
Another woman, Angela Hughes, who is also a former patient at the hospital, added: “The staff were brilliant when I was in hospital the other week. They work so hard and [are] so pressured because of staff cuts.”
Former employees have also praised the hospital, Catharine Lake, said: “I was proud to work at Aintree hospital. It’s a great place to work and delivers very good care, under extremely impossible circumstances.”
