Nursing organisation says CCQ report on QA Hospital makes for '˜grim reading'

The Royal College of Nursing said the report makes for grim reading.

It comes as the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates health services, published a damning report rating the A&E department as inadequate.

David Cozens, regional officer, said: ‘The CQC’s criticism of the emergency department at the Queen Alexandra Hospital makes for very grim reading but it does not come as a surprise – the RCN has been raising serious concerns regarding this department for many months.

‘It is completely unacceptable for patient safety to be put at risk, and we know that nursing staff are working under extreme pressures, battling to provide the best possible care in an incredibly challenging environment.

‘The trust has implemented changes to management and has action plans in place but, as the CQC highlights, it cannot solve this problem on its own and will need support from other local health and social care services.

‘Flow through the hospital must also be improved, to ensure that patients can be admitted promptly, and ease the pressure on the emergency department.

‘It is vital that these problems are addressed so that patients have access to the best possible care.’