Whipps Cross welcomes the Secretary of State for Health, RT Hon Jeremy Hunt
Jeremy Hunt was greeted at the hospital’s emergency department entrance by Alwen Williams, interim chief executive of Barts Health NHS Trust, before meeting a number of frontline staff.
After speaking to emergency care staff, the Secretary of State was given a tour of the emergency patient pathway so he could see first hand, how patients are assessed and treated. He then went on to visit the Acute Assessment Unit where he chatted to staff and patients and watched the team at work. He also visited Birch and Blackthorn elderly care wards, spending time speaking to both staff and patients.
Jeremy Hunt finished his visit by taking the opportunity to speak to a group of staff, who work in various areas across the hospital, to understand their personal experiences of working in the frontline.
Barts Health interim chief executive Alwen Williams said:
“I was pleased to welcome Jeremy Hunt to Whipps Cross Hospital today and staff welcomed the opportunity to share their experiences of working at the hospital and providing frontline care and treatment to the thousands of patients who need the hospital’s services every day.”
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said:
“The staff at Whipps Cross Hospital should be proud of their achievements. The issues at Barts Health NHS Trust are more complex than at a DGH, and the purpose of the special measures regime is to ensure trusts get the targeted support they need. Today, I've heard direct from clinical and support staff how morale is growing and performance is improving, which means patients are benefitting.
"This is in no small part down to the hard work and dedication of all the staff here and across the trust. I look forward to coming back in a year or so and seeing your continued progress."
