Healthwatch Redbridge response to the Whipps Cross University Hospital CQC Report
Today (15 December 2016), saw the release of the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report highlighting the quality of services provided at Whipps Cross University Hospital; as part of Barts Health NHS Trust.
The CQC have rated the hospital as inadequate.
Healthwatch Redbridge Chief Executive Officer, Cathy Turland said:
‘Although we acknowledge that there have been improvements in maternity and children’s services we remain concerned that improvements throughout the hospital have been slower than we would have expected.’
She continued:
‘We are concerned that, 20 months on from the previous CQC report; we see little if any improvement in the areas of surgical, outpatients and critical care. We are disappointed that detailed accounts within the report show that patients are not having their basic support needs met to ensure that they are provided with safe, effective and responsive treatment in a caring and dignified manner.
Male patients unable to shower due to inappropriate sanitary facilities certainly raises concerns. Health risks such as these are not acceptable in a modern hospital.
Most worrying of all is to hear that dying patients are being denied appropriate pain relief due to staff shortages. Senior management should ensure that bullying and the denial of compassionate care should be dealt with in the strongest terms.
Despite our involvement in seeking improvements in patient care, these latest findings continue to echo the concerns that service users of Whipps Cross have told Healthwatch Redbridge in the past.
We will continue to work with our Healthwatch colleagues to enable patients and users of these services to have their voices heard.’
Vanda Thomas, Chair of Healthwatch said:
‘This report is appalling. It clearly shows that the Trust merger did not work and is not capable of providing adequate care for patients or leadership. We raised these concerns during discussions about the merger and ever since - we stand by them now.’
A copy of the report can be found below.
For and on behalf of Healthwatch Redbridge
