Hospital downgraded after 12-hour A&E waits

Basildon Hospital has been downgraded from a "requires improvement" rating to "inadequate"

A hospital has been rated inadequate after a watchdog found patients had waits of more than 12 hours in its emergency department.

Patients at Basildon Hospital in Essex had to stand or sit on the floor of corridors due to what the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said was "serious overcrowding".

Inspectors also discovered "bowls of bodily fluids" left unattended for hours, and that staff "didn't always treat people kindly" due to pressures.

Hospital chief Matthew Hopkins said immediate changes were made after the CQC delivered its feedback.

"We are committed to providing high-quality, safe services for the people in our care," he continued.

"However, this rating is not where we want to be and we are working hard to improve."

Basildon is one of three major hospitals run by the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and was previously rated as "requires improvement".

Matthew Hopkins is the chief executive of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Hazel Roberts, from the CQC, said inspectors had to step in at one point when they saw a person was having a seizure.

"Staff were doing their best, but there weren't enough of them and they often couldn't see people around corners," she said.

Ms Roberts said "disjointed leadership" in the emergency department was undermining its efforts to make more beds available.

She added: "The environment was also in poor condition, and we found encrusted liquids on the floor and bowls of bodily fluids left for multiple hours, which could spread infection."

Further concerns raised by the watchdog included:

• People did not always have enough food, drink or pain relief while waiting in the emergency department

• Two people with chest pains waited more than six hours to see a clinician

• Some patients did not receive time-sensitive medication while in the department

• Leaders of the emergency wing, hospital and trust were disconnected from each other, creating a "culture of distrust and low morale"

However, it was noted that staff consistently respected people's consent to care and had a strong safety culture.

They were also praised for learning from previous safety incidents, and the hospital's medical care services were rated "good".

Basildon Hospital has been ordered to improve waiting times in A&E

Since the inspection, a dedicated and specially-trained team of staff have been introduced to the emergency department's waiting room, the hospital said.

Mr Hopkins added: "Whilst we recognise there is still more to do, we are confident these changes have already improved our services.

"Our patients are telling us that things are improving."