Yahoo Finance Hospital chief in mask row quit after watchdog’s intervention
A hospital chief who blamed staff for a Covid-19 outbreak quit days after inspectors found that patients and medics were being put at risk by inadequate measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Sarah Tedford resigned as chief executive of Hillingdon hospital, in Boris Johnson's constituency, a week after the Care Quality Commission issued a formal warning notice demanding urgent action to improve "infection control practices".
Mrs Tedford had earlier been pictured in the hospital without a mask, while sitting next to a sign that stated: "You must wear a face covering during your time in hospital.”
The Telegraph understands that the CQC made an unannounced visit to the hospital shortly after it emerged that a Covid-19 outbreak resulted in 70 staff needing to self-isolate and a partial shutdown of the A&E unit.
The regulator is preparing to publish its findings this week, after issuing a notice under section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, which allows the body to demand urgent changes where failing to do so could leave people "exposed to the risk of harm".
Nigel Acheson, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals, confirmed that it had "identified concerns regarding the safety of patients and staff."
Following an initial outbreak of Covid-19 among staff, Mrs Tedford sent out a rebuke by email on July 3, warning that “some of us are not demonstrating the behaviour we should be”.
She added: “I am told some of you are not wearing appropriate masks and you are not adhering to social distancing. This has resulted in an outbreak on a ward where our staff have contracted Covid-19. If you do not follow the guidance we cannot keep you safe. I don’t like wearing a mask, but it would be irresponsible of me not to do so."
Five days later, the west London hospital closed to emergency admissions and the number of staff isolating due to the outbreak reached 70.
However on July 2, a day before Mrs Tedford's email, a photograph posted on Hillingdon hospital's Facebook page showed the then chief executive and a colleague without face masks.
They were leading a Q&A session while sitting in front of a sign setting out infection control instructions, including the requirement to wear a face covering in the hospital. Mrs Tedford was also pictured without a mask at another session on June 30.
It later emerged that the source of the outbreak was thought to have been a training event also held on June 30.
A nurse who had unknowingly contracted the virus was believed to have attended the presentation and unwittingly infected 16 others.
A number of staff reportedly failed to wear masks or distance themselves from others - particularly during the lunch break.
The CQC is understood to have made an unannounced visit to the hospital on August 4, following reports of the outbreak.
The regulator issued the section 31 notice on August 7, details of which are expected to be published this week.
A week later, on August 14, Sir Amyas Morse, who chairs the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said he had accepted Mrs Tedford's resignation with immediate effect.
"Sarah has reached a personal decision to stand down for family reasons, a decision I respect and understand," he said at the time.
Mrs Tedford added: "I joined the NHS as a student nurse in 1985, and I have always strived to do my very best for my patients and colleagues. However, recent months have really caused me to reflect about working so far away from my family."
Last week Sir Amyas told the trust's board that the CQC had "pointed to areas where we could and should improve our infection control practices."
Mr Acheson said: “We have taken urgent enforcement action against the trust to ensure that safety risks are addressed. We will provide further information when the legal process allows.”
A spokesman for Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "We have taken immediate action to improve safety and believe that we are making progress. We want to assure our staff, patients and the wider community of our absolute commitment to their safety and wellbeing."
Mrs Tedford could not be reached for comment on the CQC intervention.
