- NHS hospital
Furness General Hospital
Report from 12 May 2025 assessment
Contents
Ratings - Urgent and emergency services
Our view of the service
Furness General Hospital emergency department is based in Barrow in Furness and part of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
We carried out an unannounced assessment of urgent and emergency services on 15, 16 and 17 July 2025 due to information of concern and to follow up enforcement actions from our previous inspection.
The service was previously in breach of the legal regulations in relation to safe care and treatment and staffing. Improvements were found at this assessment, but the service was in breach of good governance due to flow issues.
We assessed this service using our single assessment framework and looked at all key questions and 24 quality statements.
We spoke with over 30 members of staff, 20 patients, relatives, and reviewed over 18 records to inform our judgements and rating for the service.
We found shortfalls in the department as it faced challenges in managing patient flow to the wider hospital. As a result, some patients spent time in areas that were not clinically appropriate.
We rated the service as good overall.
The service was in breach of the legal regulations relating to safe care and treatment. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with patients and those close to them during the onsite inspection visit.
People were generally positive about the service and care provided and feedback recorded as compliments or thank you cards received were displayed for staff to view.
The service scored above average in the national patient survey for how staff communicated with patients and being treated with dignity and respect.
We observed staff interacting well with patients and those close to them. Staff of all grades displayed compassion and respect when communicating with people using the service.