The visits resulted in the CQC issuing a Section 29A Warning Notice, requiring the Trust to make specific improvements within a set timeframe.
The Trust has accepted the findings and, following feedback from inspectors, teams have worked through the required actions and implemented improvements.
These included strengthening how patients are assessed on arrival, enhancing senior clinical oversight of those waiting to be seen, improving infection prevention and control, and increasing senior support and visibility in the department.
A spokesperson at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals said: “We know this will be concerning for our communities, and we take this seriously.
“Our focus is on ensuring care is delivered to a consistently high standard, so that every patient coming to our hospitals is assessed promptly, monitored appropriately, and any concerns are identified and escalated without delay.
“We recognise the work our colleagues carry out in a demanding environment. We also know there is more to be done to improve, and we are committed to ensuring teams have the right support in place to deliver the standard of care they want to provide.
“We know we can do better, and we will.”
While these improvements are now in place, the Trust’s focus is on ensuring they become part of day-to-day practice, particularly as demand continues to grow, with more than 200,000 emergency attendances each year across its main sites in Doncaster, Mexborough and Worksop, and a further 10,000 expected in the year ahead.
The notice will remain in place until the Care Quality Commission is assured that all required improvements have been fully embedded.
If local people have any questions, concerns or wish to raise positive experiences with our services, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on (01302) 642764 or dbth.pals.dbh@nhs.net
