Noble's Hospital could do better - inspectors

 An inspection into the Island's Health Service has scored it just 39 out of 100 for caring for people with long-term conditions.

The West Midlands Quality Review Service was looking at aspects of acute care.

In particular, they focused on services such as diabetes, heart failure, cardiac rehabilitation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neurone Disease.

The review service is basing its latest findings on a visit its team made in March, and says out of 388 quality standards, just 150 were met, a figure of 39 per cent.

A number of issues of concern are raised in the document, including understaffing at the Acute Medical Unit – health bosses had said there were enough nurses for 13 beds, but the unit has 21. The Health service has pointed out average occupancy for the unit is around 13 long term and nursing bank staff can be called in when required.

It also said some patients were admitted unnecessarily when they could have been treated at home, and many stay in hospital too long.

The review into long term conditions focussed on all aspects of the health service, primary and secondary, not just Nobles hospital. Many patients with conditions such as COPD, for example, are cared for by GPs

Health Minister Howard Quayle says there are also some positive comments of which the hospital can be proud, and work is already underway to make improvements where needed.