Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Woolwich has been awarded a 'Good' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the first time since the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust assumed control in 2013.
Inspection Results
Inspectors from the independent healthcare regulator conducted a four-day visit earlier this year, evaluating urgent and emergency care, medical care, outpatients, and diagnostic imaging. All but one category were rated 'Good', elevating the hospital's overall rating from 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good'. The 'Safe' category, however, remained at 'Requires Improvement'.
CEO's Reaction
Ben Travis, Chief Executive of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, expressed pride in the achievement: "This is such a proud day for all of us at LGT. The QEH is an extremely busy hospital caring for a wide range of patients across Greenwich and Bexley, many with complex health needs. Over the last few years, we have focused on improving the QEH as a place to deliver and receive care and I am delighted that this has been recognised by the CQC."
Safety Breaches
The CQC identified five safety breaches in medical care, including delayed transfers of patients from corridor care, incomplete risk assessments, lapses in fire safety and infection control, and breaches of patient confidentiality. The trust has been asked to develop an action plan to address these issues.
Positive Feedback
Despite the breaches, inspectors praised patient experience. The categories of 'Effective', 'Caring', 'Responsive', and 'Well-led' all received 'Good' ratings. The CQC noted that care and treatment were consistently delivered in line with national guidance, and patients were treated with kindness, compassion, and respect. Data from the past 12 months showed 94% of patients were positive about their care, with only 2% reporting poor care.
Improvements Made
The trust highlighted several improvements since the last inspection in August 2023, including over 100 new beds, a new Same Day Emergency Care unit, a state-of-the-art MRI and CT scanning hub, and a refurbished cardiac catheter lab. Chief Nurse Louise Crosby remarked: "This is a real team achievement and a fantastic acknowledgement of how far we have come at the QEH in delivering safe, compassionate care for our patients. Our Good rating will not lead to complacency; it will spur us on with listening to and engaging with our patients to ensure that we are always improving against our goal to deliver safe and compassionate care."
