Elderly care in Worcestershire hospitals reviewed

A Worcestershire health trust has announced an independent review into how it looks after elderly people.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found patients at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch had been left unable to get water and at risk of malnutrition.

Harry Turner, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's chairman, said they had "let down" patients.

"We need to get to the bottom of why we weren't compliant with these standards," he said.

The CQC report "Dignity and nutrition for older people" was published a week ago.

It said that the way patients' food and drinks needs were met was a "major concern".

The trust said it had already begun to tackle the problems highlighted.

The independent review will report on whether wards are now complying with CQC standards and if the measures the trust had taken were sustainable.

The review will report its findings to the trust before the end of June.