The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected our two A&Es, several wards and the Radiology department at King George Hospital (KGH) in November last year. Their findings are available on the CQC website.  

We’re disappointed, but not surprised, that some of our ratings have changed. Like many hospitals across the country, we’ve had to look after some patients on hospital beds in corridors as we respond to the worst winter anyone can remember. When BBC London visited Queen’s A&E last month, we made clear that the care we sometimes provide is not what we’d want for our own relatives. 

In their report, the CQC accept that the issues they’ve highlighted at our Trust are made worse by pressures in primary care, adult social care and community care within the wider system. 

The inspectors highlight as a “significant issue of concern” the number of mental health patients we have waiting for long periods of time in A&E cubicles because of a shortage elsewhere of mental health beds.

The report points out that in October alone, 42 people with mental health needs were waiting more than 36 hours in the Emergency Department. This pressure has continued throughout the winter and, in January, 38 such patients waited more than 36 hours to leave our Trust and move to a service that would better care for their needs.

We’re pleased the CQC found that our focus on building stability into the leadership team, and developing a model of inclusive leadership, was “beginning to positively impact the culture across the organisation”. The inspectors also praised our staff for treating patients with compassion and kindness. They said they found examples of “staff delivering good care in a difficult working environment”. 

We are committed to doing all we can to improve the experience of patients, especially those who use our A&Es. We are increasing the size of the Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) department at Queen’s where people are seen and treated on the same day so they don’t have to be admitted; the number of patients leaving wards before noon each day is increasing; and an innovative scheme that was first introduced at the Royal London Hospital should see up to 25 people a day avoiding our A&Es and receiving treatment in a better environment. 

Responding to the CQC report our Chief Executive, Matthew Trainer, said: “I’m grateful to the Care Quality Commission for recognising the commitment of our staff who are delivering compassionate care despite being under tremendous pressure. I’m also glad the CQC has acknowledged that the challenges we face are complicated by wider pressures within the health and social care system in north east London.

"Corridor care is inadequate care, and the pressures of this winter have led to too many people being cared for in this way. It is wrong for patients and their families, and it’s exhausting and demoralising for our staff.

“We know it’s not good enough and we will work hard with our local partners to try to avoid another winter like this.

“As a Trust, and as a system in north east London, we need to get better and I’m confident that when the inspectors return they will see improvements.” 

The CQC also expressed concern about delays in establishing if patients had been adversely affected after we’d discovered several thousand people waiting for routine radiology investigations had been left off our waiting lists. 

We have fixed the problem and have organised additional capacity for MRI, CT scans and non-obstetric ultrasounds. All of those who experienced a delay have been contacted and have now been seen.

An investigation into whether this delay has harmed patients is underway and we have contacted people where we think this might be the case. We are carrying out a thorough review of the way data is collected to ensure all our systems are working properly and reporting accurately.

The reliability and stability of our data systems are vital as we prepare to, finally, introduce electronic paper records at our Trust. We will be the last acute hospital trust in London to introduce an electronic records system, and this is due to be in place from 2025.