Under-pressure A&E is subjected to unannounced CQC inspection

The Care Quality Commission went to the hospital in Cosham on Monday – the day that 16 ambulances were queueing to get patients in to A&E after the hospital was placed on black alert due to high demand.

Nick Kerswell, from the CQC, said that the visit on Monday and Tuesday was unannounced, and that it was part of regular inspections, but that it was also brought about by reports of delays.

He said: ‘We were aware of the exceptional demand on the hospital’s A&E department and we were there to look at the various issues, which have been widely reported.’

A Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: ‘We can confirm the CQC carried out an inspection.

‘We have much to be proud of within our organisation and we welcome the visit. We continued to operate normally during their unannounced inspection.’

Mr Kerswell said the CQC would be discussing its findings with managers before its report is published in April.

He added: ‘We reported serious concerns about A&E being at capacity last year.

‘This inspection was unannounced although we had planned it for a few weeks. We wanted to see it as it really was.’