DORSET’S biggest healthcare provider has come under fire for failing to make urgent improvements in the way it is run.

The Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust is now in breach of its licence according to Monitor, the independent health sector regulator.

It claims the Trust is taking too long to make the legally binding changes agreed in April.

Paul Streat, regional director at Monitor, said: “We believe that the Trust has failed to act quickly enough in addressing a number of serious problems.

“Patients deserve the best possible care so we’re adding a new condition to the Trust’s licence to bring about the urgent improvements that are needed.”

He added that Monitor can take further regulatory action if improvements are not made.

The Trust is accused of failing to properly address quality of care issues raised by the Care Quality Commission and failing to ensure appropriate staffing levels.

Monitor has now imposed a new condition on the Trust’s licence which requires it to ensure its board and committees function effectively.

Paul Sly, chief executive of Dorset HealthCare, said: “We’ve been working hard to make changes to our quality and governance systems to help raise standards across all the Trust’s services.

“Change doesn’t happen overnight, but there are clear improvements since Monitor’s first intervention in April.

“Our aim is to have addressed all the issues raised by March 2014.

“To do this I am chairing a weekly taskforce which is focused on delivering the actions needed to bring about the necessary change.

“We have also invested in a concerted recruitment drive including a series of job fairs to ensure appropriate staffing levels are met and maintained.

“This has resulted in over 135 whole time equivalent staff being appointed and this will significantly reduce vacancy pressures and improve the quality of care we provide.”

He added: “We will be relying on the commitment of our governors, senior managers and staff during this period of change to ensure that we continue to deliver our vision of providing care all of us would recommend to family and friends.”

Primary care

Dorset HealthCare based in Boscombe provides community health services, mental health, learning disability, addictions, community brain injury, community dental, and some primary care services, across Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole.