A NUMBER of “serious incidents” requiring investigation have been reported across Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), according to documents seen by the Gazette.

Papers published by the trust of the minutes of its risk committee meeting held in December, show various risks considered to be “small scale” but which have the potential to become a larger issue.

Of those noted at the meeting included the management of deteriorating patients.

The trust, which runs Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals, said it has “done a lot to improve it but we are still getting incidents and serious incidents requiring investigation (SIRIs)”.

The minutes said this could be mitigated through ensuring medical rotas are as full as they can be.

An increase in medicine-related issues was said to be a “concern”, however work was being done to address this, particularly the management of diabetes incidents.

The minutes referred to a national problem with a huge increase in patients with complex glaucoma - which can cause blindness - causing a problem with ophthalmology patients being seen for follow up appointments.

HHFT reported it has had a number of SIRIs over the past few years related to this that are being reviewed.

Managing adult and child patients with mental illness in crisis was listed as a “concern following a number of incidents”.

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of the trust, told the meeting that she felt the trust has a “number of high-level risks that relate to HHFT’s external reputation”.

These included the trust’s financial position; pressure to meet “difficult figures over the next five years”; the Emergency Department’s performance; and the Trauma and Orthopaedics reconfiguration. Brexit was also noted as a risk.

The committee was given an overview of individual services expected to draw more attention than others during a CQC (Care Quality Commission) visit.

These included the Minor Injuries Unit in Andover, which was said to have “ongoing problems”.

The Emergency Department was also an area of concern, with the maternity service in Winchester said to have problems.

The report said: “CQC asked for a deep dive into this service last time which suggests they have some concerns.”

Critical Care in theatres was reported as having a “number of serious incidents requiring investigation”.

Recommendations were made regarding risks within the trust, including reviewing its risk register, which had 623 “active risks”.

Risk management framework was also in need of updating.