Boris Johnson's deputy faces damaging new allegations that he misled the public by claiming to be a magistrate
More...
Five London hospitals rated worst in country
Sophie Goodchild, Health Editor14.05.08
London hospital patients face some of the worst healthcare standards in the country.
Five hospitals in the capital come bottom of the league for hygiene, privacy, food quality and overall care.
Ealing is ranked the lowest out of a total of 165 NHS hospital trusts, followed by Homerton, Mayday, Barking and North Middlesex.
The findings, published today by watchdog the Healthcare Commission, are based on the views of nearly 76,000 adult patients staying overnight in English hospitals. The greatest variations in care involved mixed-sex wards, waiting times and the standard of food.
Fewer than half of patients said bathrooms and lavatories were clean and fewer people than last year believed doctors and nurses always washed their hands between patients. Around a quarter of people reported being put on mixed-sex wards when admitted.
Ealing Hospital patients complained of a lack of nurses on duty, poor response rates to call buzzers and unsatisfactory food. They said there was too much noise from other patients on wards and claimed they were not given copies of medical letters from their GPs to hospital doctors. The majority of patients rated the hospital as only "fairly" clean. Commission chief executive Anna Walker said that nationally, increasing numbers of patients said care was "excellent", especially when it came to food and waiting times. But some hospitals were struggling to deliver on the basics of care. "There are striking variations in performance in key areas such as providing single-sex accommodation and giving people help when they need it. The patient voice must be heard loudly on the boards of trusts," she said.
The Patients Association pointed to Health Secretary Alan Johnson's revised promise last month to end "mixed-sex accommodation" in hospitals, rather than "mixed-sex wards" as pledged in Labour's manifesto at the last election.
Vice-chairman Michael Summers said: "We're really disappointed the Government is no longer committed to doing away with mixed-sex wards. We have also campaigned for better hospital hygiene."
Ealing Hospital NHS Trust admitted its results were "disappointing" but promised change, saying it was now putting hand-washing gel by every bed.
Trust chief executive Julie Lowe said: "The changes we're implementing will improve the way we provide services to patients and make them feel part of the decision-making process."
Link to:
Reader views (8)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
Unbelievable! I was in Lewisham emergency after an accident; I thought that was the pits. If there is anything worse, then really, the UK is in contention with ex-Soviet hospitals for the worst. But then again, why should that surprise anyone. If you will vote labour.....
- Mark Schreiber, Tonbridge, UK
North Mid is pretty ropey too, I have been waiting for an endoscopy (not the most pleasant of procedures) and the wretch I spoke to just told me 'it's been cancelled' and slammed down the phone. I rang back and asked if there's a complaints procedure, and whoever I spoke to said 'I don't really know, I'm about to go home, call back tomorrow.'
It seems to be the typical response in this hospital. I know Edmonton isn't the greatest of areas but the ghetto mentality of the staff is less than desirable. In their Children's Ward, not one nurse knew what a tracheotomy was or how to maintain it when I had to take my son there when he faced an emergency. My wife and I had to stay through the night and do all his cares as only we knew how to work his ventilator.
I think I'll go private next time, I can't wait for them to improve. I know they're rebuilding North Mid but the staff need to overhaul their attitudes as well. I'm sure it's low morale that must get them down. You don't want to upset their Triage staff - I've met bus drivers with better manners.
If the Standard could publish a handful of good hospitals nearer by, I would be grateful...
- Mr Angry, Tottenham
Totally agree with Ed, unfortunately it's our local hospital
- Fah, London
