MEON Valley MP George Hollingberry has welcomed news that a hospital used by East Hampshire residents has pledged to improve its “chaotic” accident and emergency department.
A recent report by the hospital watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) described the accident and emergency department at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham as “chaotic.”
The hospitals’ accident and emergency department is the first port of call for injured and unwell Petersfield and East Hampshire residents.
Mr Hollingberry said: “This report is very concerning for patients using QA and the situation really does have to improve quickly.
“I’m heartened the trust has apologised for its failings and seems to have a plan to improve accident and emergency care but, sadly, we have been here before and patience is understandably wearing thin particularly when you consider MPs from across South Hampshire have been pressing for change for several years now.
“The acting chief executive and his team must now do exactly what the CQC wants otherwise the trust runs the clear risk of losing the confidence of residents.
“Like many other MPs, I will be monitoring the situation closely and will be wanting to see tangible progress in the coming months.”
Earlier this year CQC inspectors found long queues of ambulances outside the department, while patients with serious symptoms waited hours to be assessed.
The inspectors, who visited in February and March, said the emergency department was "chaotic" with an "unacceptable" risk to patients.
At times, sixteen ambulances were waiting to deliver patients, representing a third of the emergency ambulance fleet for Hampshire.
As a result on 11 occasion there were no ambulances available to respond to respond to 999 calls.
Some vulnerable patients were left in ambulances for more than two hours.
d eleven 999 calls were put on hold because ambulances were queuing at the hospital
Outside the department a large specialised "Jumbulance" was used as a waiting room for some patients.
Waiting times were among the worst in the country with almost a third of patients waiting more than four hours to be treated.
The CQC said the hospital had to take "immediate action" to protect patients, including ceasing the use of the Jumbulance.
The NHS trust’s Interim Chief Executive, Tim Powell, said: "We recognise the picture painted by the CQC in this report and we are very sorry that we have failed to provide to our patients, on a consistent basis, the high standards of care that we expect of ourselves.
"We fully accept the inspector’s findings and, we are determined to ensure that by... next winter, our service will be better."