Bath's Royal United Hospital has been given six weeks to improve its handling of patients’ records, following a damning report from the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors visited the hospital in February and June, and found it was failing to meet five national standards.

CQC South regional director Adrian Hughes said: “Earlier this year we identified a series of concerns with the care and treatment of patients, and in response the RUH produced a plan showing how it would improve.

“While some of those concerns have now been addressed, it is clear that on the older people’s wards, the trust was still failing to keep patient records as are required.”

Director of nursing Helen Blanchard, who took up the position at the end of August, said: “I know how much of a disappointment this report will be to everyone who works here.

“From what I have seen, staff put patients first and work extremely hard to give them the best experience possible.

“The CQC will be coming back to inspect us in December, and we welcome this as an opportunity to show off our very good levels of care over a longer period of time.”