Interim boss at QA Hospital says next 100 days is critical to making changes

Speaking at the Portsmouth health overview and scrutiny panel (Hosp), he told members there were signs the hospital was improving.

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs QA in Cosham, is in the process of making changes following a damning report by the Care Quality Commission.

The report looked at the trust’s emergency department and rated it as inadequate.

Mr Powell presented a report to Hosp members which looked at the future of QA’s A&E department.

He said: ‘The key is sustainability. We have been in this place before where we had plans and some improvements were made.

‘What’s different this time is we have got experts working with us who are convinced our Urgent Care Improvement Programme is the right one to implement.

‘The next 100 days are absolutely critical. It’s about getting some real pace and rigour into the plan.’

As previously reported in The News, when the CQC inspector visited QA Hospital in February, they felt immediate changes had to be made to stop patients being at risk.

An enforcement notice was issued with changes the trust had to make.

One of those included sending data to the CQC every day looking at statistics such as assessment targets and waiting times.

Member of the board Councillor Leo Madden asked Mr Powell how the data was looking and if improvements were being made.

Mr Powell said: ‘We have seen improvements in the figures but we are not being naive about it.

‘We know this time of year is usually quiet but there are signs of improvements.

‘April was a very difficult month and during May we had two very difficult bank holiday weekends.

‘But June is showing signs of improvement.’

Newly-appointed chairman of Hosp Councillor Jennie Brent said she was happy with the report and the update.

‘From what we have heard it seems plans are in place to improve A&E,’ she said.

‘I have comfort in what is being planned.’