Basildon Hospital downgraded after 12-hour A&E waits

THE latest damning report on Basildon Hospital has classified it as ‘inadequate’, a new low in a year and more of continued criticism.

The latest report, released at midnight (15 October) focuses on the hospital’s care for the elderly and the quality of its emergency services.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has dropped the hospital’s rating from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘inadequate’ following inspections of its medical care (including older people’s care) and urgent and emergency services between December 2024 and March 2025. 

And only days before that was published, government performance league tables rated the Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust as 124th in a league table of 134 acute trusts across the country.

The latest report features on the first inspection of the hospital’s urgent and emergency services since the merger which formed Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. CQC has rated them inadequate overall. CQC rated them inadequate for how safe and well-led they are. CQC has rated them requires improvement for how effective, caring, and responsive they are. 

CQC has again rated medical care overall at the hospital, as well as how safe and well-led it is, as requires improvement. CQC has again rated it good for being caring and responsive. CQC has raised it from requires improvement to good for being effective. 

CQC also placed conditions on Basildon University Hospital’s registration, requiring leaders to act immediately on the most urgent concerns for people’s safety and to regularly update CQC on the progress of these improvements.

In her latest comment on the wake of the new CQC report Mrs Craft, a regular critic of the hospital’s performance and management, says: “While I would never criticise the hardworking frontline staff who are also being let down, this report is further evidence that those who run Basildon Hospital are just not delivering for people locally. 

“The ratings of patient safety and A&E at Basildon Hospital are particularly alarming, and some of the incidents described are shocking and simply unacceptable.

“I have written to the Health Secretary to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss what measures the Department can take to turn around performance at the hospital and reassure people in Thurrock that we are receiving the standard of care we deserve.”

Cllr Mark Hooper, Thurrock Council cabinet member for health and well-being, said: “This latest CQC report lays bare the failures of the hospital trust and makes for extremely worrying reading. 

“It is clear that staff are working as hard as they can to provide care for patients but are overworked and under resourced. 

“This is entirely unacceptable. 

“When people go to hospital, especially the emergency department, they should expect to be properly taken care of. This report makes it clear that is not always the case at Basildon University Hospital.

“We will work with the hospital trust to help them make the improvements they need to.”

The latest condemnation will sit heavily on the desk of the Trust’s outgoing chief executive – and will be a huge mountain to climb for whoever succeeds him when he leaves next month.

Matthew Hopkins announced he was leaving at the end of September, citing family issues as the reason he was quitting.

“This decision marks the end of an incredible professional journey, but the beginning of an important personal one,” said Mr Hopkins. 

“My wife’s recent cancer diagnosis and treatment has reminded us both of the patient perspective and the importance of family time. As she continues her recovery, we plan to work together on initiatives to improve cancer pathways for other families.”

Dr Andy Wood OBE, Chair of the Trust, said: “Matthew has made a significant contribution to the NHS during his career. We understand and fully support his decision to prioritise his family at this important time. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will be announcing succession arrangements in due course. I am sure everyone will join me in thanking Matthew for his dedicated service.”

A statement added: “The Trust will announce succession arrangements in due course, with Mr Hopkins remaining in post until November to ensure continuity of leadership.”

Key points from the latest report:-

Inspectors found: 

• People didn’t always have enough food, drink, or pain relief while waiting in the emergency department. 
• Staff didn’t always assess people’s needs quickly or thoroughly, meaning they could miss important information or risks to their safety. 
• Leaders weren’t rapidly addressing unsafe delays in treatment in the emergency department. Two people with chest pain waited over six hours to see a clinician. 
• Staff didn’t always manage or store people’s medications safely. Some people didn’t receive time-sensitive medications in the emergency department. 
• Senior leaders weren’t visible in the emergency department and didn’t always understand the challenges impacting people’s care there. Concerns raised by inspectors in December 2024 hadn’t been fixed by March 2025. 
• Leaders of the emergency department, hospital, and trust were disconnected from each other, creating a culture of distrust and low morale amongst staff in that department and hindering improvements further. 
• Leaders on the medical wards hadn’t ensured there were always enough experienced staff on duty to meet people’s complex needs. 

However: 

• Staff consistently respected people’s consent to care and treatment. 
• Staff on the medical wards had a strong safety culture and embedded learning from safety incidents to protect people. 

The report will be published on CQC’s website in the coming days.