Princess of Wales Community Hospital
15th October 2025
Update:
The Care Quality Commission carried out a snap inspection of Lickey Ward following a number of concerns raised by relatives and staff. We understand that the CQC has found areas of concern over patient safety and staffing levels which they have raised with the Trust. Issues of concern over record keeping were also raised as well as some staff being questioned about ‘bullying’.
The Director of Nursing attended during the inspection and immediately called a meeting with the staff to tell them that she would be available for them to raise any concerns directly with her. One staff member who wished to remain anonymous wondered why that offer was not made previously to the problems getting out of hand. Staff have indicated that the Trust has put forward an improvement plan to ensure that standards are improved.
Apparently the wet wipes have now been reinstated for staff to use in patient care.
We will provide an update when the CQC Report is published.
19th July 2025
Update:
This is a developing story as we have had contacts from further members of the public raising concerns about patient care at Princess of Wales Hospital.
The staff on Lickey and Cottage Ward at Princess of Wales Hospital have been told that financial cuts are in place resulting in the cancelling of supplies of items supplied for patient care.
Hospital management informed staff not to order incontinence wipes, shower gel and soap for patient use as savings must be made. Additionally, staff are now only permitted to use one disposable cardboard bowl per patient for washing from head to toe, even where the patient has been incontinent. Concerns have been raised by healthcare staff that the cuts will put patients at risk of infection, skin deterioration and associated health issues
Carers have been directed to instruct relatives bring in toiletries and day clothes.
Concerns have been raised because some patients do not have relatives, and some relatives do not have the money to purchase these items.
Incontinence is a major concern on wards where staffing levels are low in any event. One source claimed that patient safety is being placed further at risk due to financial cuts and a number of staff has submitted a collective grievance in which their concerns are highlighted to Trust management.
One source draws a direct comparison between what happened previously on Hillcrest ward and what is happening today on Lickey and Cottage wards, “Management are only after savings and they don’t learn. We have been told to make cuts but it goes against the grain. Most of us have been here for years and we have never seen it so bad. Its the patients that are suffering.” Another source claimed that junior staff are “admonished” if they raise concerns to management.
GoNews.UK is still awaiting an explanation from the Trust.
If you have a relative who is a patient on Lickey or Cottage Ward, Princess of Wales Hospital then please get is touch and let us have your thoughts. Remember, we would like to hear any positives as well as any concerns you may have. Info@GoNews.UK or use the Contact Us Form on our website. All contacts will be treated in confidence.
Jenson Phipps
Staff Reporter
18th July 2025
Update:
| Care Quality Commission statement on Lickey Ward, Princess of Wales Community Hospital |
| A CQC spokesperson said: “We’ve been made aware of concerns raised at Lickey Ward, Princess of Wales Community Hospital. We’re following up on these concerns to ensure people are receiving a safe service and will be in contact with Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB about this. “As with all services we’d encourage anyone who has feedback to contact CQC as it helps us in the ongoing monitoring and assessment of health providers. This can be done using CQC’s website, or customer care centre on 03000 616161.” |
15th July 2025
Recent years have seen numerous television documentaries exposing scandalous examples of neglect and ill-treatment on NHS Hospital wards.
Investigations inevitably expose management failing to have taken swift and effective action despite the problems being reported on many occasions and often from a number of different sources.
Patients caught up in these scandals are the most vulnerable in society, including the elderly, those with mental health conditions or other disabilities, and those without families.
There is then the walk of shame as NHS Trust management publish the same old statements in an attempt to allay fears of future neglect. “We cannot comment as staff are currently facing disciplinary investigations”, “Robust measures are being taken to ensure this doesn’t happen again” and “We are employing more staff”. It is rare that senior Trust managers take the hit, and accept responsibility for the shortfalls in care.
Lickey Ward is a recovery and rehabilitation unit in The Princess of Wales Hospital in Bromsgrove and forms part of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust.
Readers may remember the scandal of Hillcrest Ward which beset this same Trust. Treatment and care of patients on that ward was so poor it resulted in the ward being closed following a CQC visit.
GoNews.UK was contacted last week by a multiple sources raising significant concerns around longstanding shortfalls in basic patient care on Lickey Ward. Similar claims were also made about another ward in the same hospital.
These claimed that Trust Directors have been aware of patient neglect for at least two years. The allegations include incontinent patients being left to sit in their own urine and faeces for extend periods, sometimes many hours, due to shortages of healthcare staff. They added that patients not being washed and male patients not being shaved, that immobile and infirm patients, went unfed and without drinks, and medication was being administered late.
There were claims that sickness rates amongst staff have significantly increased with many off due to anxiety and stress and many more having simply quit to find alternative employment.
As a journalist this story has particular resonance with me as, until last year, I worked at this same Trust – though not at this Hospital. My role included work as a Trade Union Rep. on behalf of my members and I had previously directly raised almost identical issues with a Director of the Trust two years ago. I was given a cast iron assurance that the issues were recognised, and immediate plans had been drawn up to remedy the situation. Over the past few days I have been deeply shocked to learn this does not seem to have been the case.
GoNews.UK has had further contacts from other sources describing ward staff being assaulted by patients whose care was not possible on a general physical health ward. The appropriate placement should have been on a well-staffed psychiatric unit, but due to bed shortages within the Trust, this was not possible. Staff on Lickey ward claim they have not been trained to manage aggressive and violent psychiatric patients. They express concerns that other vulnerable patients are also at risk and highlight a member of staff recently being seriously assaulted and needing medical treatment after sustaining a head injury. Another patient is alleged to have pulled out the electrical wiring from the wall, plunging the ward into darkness and exposing himself and other patients and staff to the risk of electrocution.
Very concerning is the claim that hospital management indicated to staff there is no budget for extra staff, and they will have to “make do” with what they have.
Let me be very clear in my report, the healthcare staff on Lickey Ward have been doing their utmost to provide proper care in dire circumstances. Many have worked in healthcare for many years and have provided care they can be proud of. The universal concern is, yet again, understaffing and deeply flawed Hospital management.
Staff cannot carry out adequate care if there are not enough of them to do it.
Staff have again approached their Trade Union to take up the case as a collective grievance against the Trust and this is in hand.
A former, qualified member of the ward nursing staff told GoNews.UK, “Lickey ward used to be well regarded as providing high quality care by dedicated, professional and hard-working staff. We were all secure in the knowledge that our patients were being well looked after around the clock. It was a well-run, well-managed ward. It is upsetting to hear how things have changed.”
There remains hope that the Trust’s new Chief Executive will engage with staff to enable an improvement to the situation.
GoNews.UK asked the Trust for a statement, and they replied, “… a statement will not be provided from the Trust at this stage. If you wish to place an FOI request this can be done either by email or in writing.”
We do not feel this is an adequate reSPONSE and it gives no assurance that measures are going to be taken to address the situation.
We are awaiting a response for a statement made to Claire Breeze, Unison’s Regional Organiser and Jackie Oliver, the Trust’s new Chair of Staff Side who represent the staff.
If you feel you have anything to add to this story then please email us in confidence at Andrew@GoNews.UK and we promise to respond.
Andy Crooke