HOSPITAL bosses have been praised for improving Bournemouth's troubled casualty ward.

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Trust has been commended for transforming the organisation of patient care - particularly in its accident and emergency department.

The A&E ward has seen delays of eight hours and more, with bosses urging patients not to come to hospital unless it is vital.

A routine assessment by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) found organisational improvements had cut the number of people staying in hospital unnecessarily and reduced the number staying in wards that did not cater specifically for their condition.

Faster access to doctors and diagnostic testing had meant patients were able to leave A&E earlier, the clinical governance review added.

But the report criticised the hospital for having confusing risk-reporting systems and a lack of strategic direction.

Dr Peter Homa, chief executive of the CHI, said: "The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust is to be commended for the initiative it has shown in improving the organisation of patient care and for its admirable approach to staff management.

"The report identifies the strengths at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust and the trust is already working on an action plan to tackle areas of concern."

The report said the confusing risk-reporting system meant not all staff were aware of what action to take to reduce actual or potential clinical risks to patients.

The report also noted that paediatrics was not represented as a speciality at the trust, despite 15 per cent of A&E attendances being children. The trust needed to urgently ensure staff were trained to care for children in this area, it added.