This is Surrey reports:
A HOSPITAL has been told to improve after a health watchdog ruled its vulnerable patients could be "at risk".
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Epsom Hospital and found it met standards in four out of five key areas, but concerns were raised over "standards of caring for people safely and protecting them from harm".
The CQC's report says the hospital, which is used by many Mole Valley people, is not meeting basic requirements on safeguarding patients and confidentiality, with some patients' diagnoses written on white boards at the foot of their beds.
It said: "There are shortfalls in staff training regarding the protection of adults and therefore the potential for vulnerable adults to be at risk.
"We asked several staff about what they would do, should they suspect an older person was the subject of abuse, outlining possible scenarios.
"Most of them said that they would tell the ward manager although we were alarmed by the response of one nurse, who insisted that they would try and manage the situation themselves."
The report added: "Some visitors raised concerns about lack of contact with the consultant in charge of their relatives' care.
"They told us 'we can't get any information', 'you can't get any information', 'we go home worried sick', 'we keep asking and asking, it's infuriating'.
"We spoke with several members of the clinical staff. They told us that staffing had been a real concern; they felt that most areas had been short of staff."
CQC inspectors visited the hospital in Dorking Road in July, but the report was published on its new website last week.
Regarding confidentiality, the report added: "White boards on the walls with patient's names and bed numbers on, which help staff to know where they are on the ward, at times included their diagnosis and this was visible for anyone to read."
Director of nursing Pippa Hart said: "As a trust, we are committed to ensuring each and every patient receives the very best possible care.
"Following a review by CQC, we were asked to do more to ensure our staff know what to do if they have concerns about a vulnerable adult. This includes if they felt a patient was being harmed, or at risk of being harmed, by a relative or a friend.
"As a result, we have implemented a raft of measures to raise awareness of the policy, including running additional training for staff and issuing a leaflet to all staff about what to do if they have concerns."
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