Kings trust rated Requires Improvement by CQC

The Care Quality Commission has rated south London’s King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as Requires Improvement overall as part of its latest inspection.

The trust was rated Requires Improvement for being safe, effective, responsive and well-led, and rated Good for being caring, following the inspection in January and February 2019.

Inspectors stated that there was a lack of effective leadership in the emergency department at Princess Royal University (PRUH) in Farnborough, a situation which had got worse since CQC’s previous inspection. Additionally, morale amongst administrative staff across most outpatient services at King’s College Hospital was low, with staff in some clinical areas not feeling valued or respected.

CQC also inspectors found in some of the core services there was a disconnect between what the executive did and how this was perceived by staff. The trust had not ensured that mandatory training was completed to the expected target. Staffing levels in some key areas did not always meet the needs of the services being delivered.

Ted Baker, England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said: “It is disappointing that there has been no overall improvement in the rating at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In fact, in some areas the trust has gone backwards. For example, there was a lack of effective leadership in the emergency department at Princess Royal University Hospital. This had got worse since CQC’s previous inspection.

“While trust was rated Good overall for caring and there were some examples of outstanding practice, care is not consistently high quality in all services. The trust must take action in response to this report to address this.”