Emergency Department (ED) staff at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) have expressed deep disappointment over a recent report by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA), describing it as lacking an explicit focus on patient safety. The report, published in July following an unannounced inspection in November 2022, found the department operating beyond its core purpose and capacity.
In a letter to the RQIA, staff stated that despite a feedback session where RQIA officials agreed the ED was 'unsafe', the final report did not sufficiently address patient safety concerns. The RQIA defended its findings, noting that the report 'articulates the patient safety impact of patient crowding' and reflects staff concerns. The inspection identified breaches in all five standards: fire safety, workforce, environment, infection prevention and control, and medicines management.
Staff also questioned the eight-month delay between inspection and publication. The RQIA said it is committed to timely publication but emphasised the need for robust peer review and accuracy checks. It added that the report highlights specific safety issues, including increased incidents of patient falls, pressure sores, and medication errors, as well as challenges in managing mental health crises.
The Belfast Trust has been asked to provide evidence of progress on actions to address the issues identified. The RQIA stressed that services operating below minimum quality standards are 'less able to prevent risks translating into actual events or incidents, and resulting in harm'.
