“I am very concerned about the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report regarding The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King’s Lynn.
Urgent and emergency care and medical services, including older people’s care, were inspected in April of this year and both services were rated as Requires Improvement.
The findings and failures outlined in the report highlight seriously concerning standards of care and treatment that are wholly unacceptable.
This is the latest in a growing list of damning reports and further evidence that performance and standards need to change at this hospital – and change fast.
My thoughts are with every person who did not receive the safe treatment and care they that should have, and their families, who had to experience someone they love receiving inadequate services.
These findings and failures are shocking, but for too many West Norfolk residents they sadly aren’t surprising. Every week, my team and I help residents who have either received or are trying to receive care at The QEH and need the support of my office. Almost every conversation I have with constituents regarding The QEH is devastating.
The consequences of these failings cannot be stressed enough. Not only does unsafe care and treatment so often result in physical implications, but it also often leaves long-lasting emotional distress and trauma for the individuals concerned and their families.
We put our trust in the services that are there to care for us and the people we love when we’re at our most vulnerable. At the heart of this, what we’re talking about are people and their families who were failed.
I remain determined to support staff at The QEH and the wider management team who I know are committed and working at pace to improve the quality and standard of services.
I note the report details how patients consistently described staff as caring, compassionate and professional, and this is reflected in the feedback I receive from constituents.
I pay tribute to staff at the hospital continuing to do all they can to look after patients to a high standard in very difficult circumstances.
Health and social care remain my top priorities and in continuing the work I have been doing with the Department of Health and Social Care, ahead of Parliament resuming next week, I have recently written to the new Health Secretary, Yvette Cooper to outline my concerns about the hospital, and wider health and social care issues locally, and will be following this up urgently with further meetings.”
Terry Jermy MP
Member of Parliament, South West Norfolk
