A&E department rated ‘inadequate’ by NHS watchdog

An A&E department has been rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after it was found to have significant delays in admitting and discharging patients, poor infection risk control and unsatisfactory record-keeping of patients’ care and treatment.

Medway Maritime Hospital have said they are rolling out an ‘improvement plan’ after they were instructed to make ‘significant and immediate improvements’ by the CQC.

The Medway NHS Foundation Trust was told earlier this year that some patients were arriving at hospital and having to wait up to eight hours before being admitted.

Whilst the A&E department was rated ‘inadequate’ for its safety, responsiveness to patients’ needs and leadership, it received a rating of ‘good’ for being caring and effective.

A chartered legal executive in the medical negligence team at Ashtons Legal, comments: “It’s worrying that delays from ambulances to this hospital are significant as they could end up being the difference between life and death. It is even more concerning that during these times infection risks are not being properly controlled. An eight hour wait to be admitted is extreme and is inadequate in terms of providing the appropriate care. It is encouraging that this need has been identified by the Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust who has said that changes have been implemented.”