A PRIVATE hospital manager has defended her staff after being told it must make urgent improvements after a recent inspection.

Foscote Private Hospital in Foscote Rise, Banbury, was visited in July by inspectors from health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which deemed the hospital “inadequate”.

The commission issued three warning notices to Foscote Court (Banbury) Trust Limited to take action to protect the patients’ health, safety and welfare.

Inspectors noted that while staff were caring, compassionate and treated patients with dignity and respect, they were often acting beyond their training and qualifications.

Theatre nurses, responsible for providing care and support to patients before and after operations, were found to be acting as surgeon’s assistants.

Hospital manager Ruth Thompson said: “ Everyone at the Foscote has worked tirelessly to ensure our patients receive responsive, safe, quality care at all stages of their treatment.

“We will continue to do so and continue to strive to improve our service wherever we can.”

Head of hospital inspection for the south central region Joyce Frederick said if the necessary improvements were not made quickly, the commission could be forced to use further legal powers to protect patients.

Measures could include restricting admissions to the hospital or imposing fines.