POOLE Hospital has been told to draw up an action plan after inspectors found shortfalls in one area.

The Care Quality Commission made a three-day unannounced visit to the hospital in May, observing and talking to staff, relatives and patients.

During the inspection they spent time in the emergency department, the main and day case operating theatres and the respiratory, cancer, children’s and elderly medicine wards.

The CQC report noted: “All patients we spoke with were positive about their experiences at the hospital. Comments … included ‘couldn’t wish for better’ and ‘hospital gets flying colours’.”

The trust met key standards for obtaining consent before examinations, care or treatment, for providing safe and appropriate care, for making sure patents are safe from harm, and for having appropriate medical and nursing staff levels.

But the CQC said further work was needed to make sure any lessons learned from adverse incidents were put into practice.

The trust has been asked to provide a detailed action plan to the commission, which describes the hospital’s performance in this standard as being of “minor impact” to patients.

Martin Smits, director of nursing and patient services at Poole Hospital said: “Visits and inspections such as this are an important barometer for both the trust and our patients and provide an important indication of how we are performing.

“It is immensely heartening to see such a positive report from the CQC inspectors. It is extremely unusual that an inspection team will leave without hearing a single negative comment from patients or their relatives. While it is right that the board and our staff reflect on and celebrate the many positives, we are clearly not complacent and continue to work hard to ensure the care our patients receive is the very best possible.”