Healthwatch Waltham Forest response to Whipps Cross University Hospital CQC Report
On 16th December the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published the report on the quality of care at Whipps Cross. Whipps Cross was rated as Inadequate overall after inspection by the CQC in July and August 2016. Eight core services were inspected. Surgery and outpatients and diagnostic imaging were rated as Inadequate. Urgent and emergency services, medical care (including older people’s care), critical care and end of life care were all rated as Requires Improvement. Maternity and gynaecology and services for young people and children were rated as Good.
Healthwatch WF worked with the CQC before the inspection to ensure patients and service users of Whipps Cross can feed into the inspection. We shared our intelligence on patient experience of Whipps Cross, and engaged local residents and patient representatives to input into where & what services the CQC should inspect. We also held a follow-up inspection, which helped established an ongoing two-way dialogue and plans for the CQC and Patient representatives to continue working together in the future.
The full report can be read HERE
Healthwatch Waltham Forest says:
“Healthwatch Waltham Forest were very disappointed when we received the news that Whipps Cross Hospital has been rated inadequate overall for the second time by the Care Quality Commission. On balance the report notes and is complimentary about where improvements have been made. We too would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of many dedicated staff at the hospital and indeed the trust. The work of the; Maternity and Gynaecology departments and services for children and young people must be commended for the fantastic progress they have made in a relatively short period of time.
However, the CQC report highlights areas of concern and sites actions that should be implemented. Areas that require improvement include surgical, outpatients and end of life care. We will continue to work effectively with Bart’s Health NHS Trust to support their improvement in these key areas.
However, we are concerned that despite our involvement in seeking improvements in patient care, these latest findings continue to echo the concerns that have been raised by service users of Whipps Cross and residents living in the London Borough of Waltham Forest for some time.
We will continue to capture patient, carer and local resident voices to improve patient pathways and patient experiences at Whipps Cross.
We will continue to progressively work with Bart’s Health NHS Trust, Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group, the Local Authority and other key stakeholders to transform services at Whipps Cross.”