CQC identifies improvements needed in urgent and emergency care at Newham University Hospital

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the findings of an inspection of urgent and emergency services at Newham University Hospital, operated by Barts Health NHS Trust.

The inspection took place in May after the CQC identified concerns relating to workplace culture, staffing levels and the length of time since the service’s previous inspection.

Inspectors found that although there were examples of good practice, the emergency department was operating under significant operational pressure, affecting the timely delivery of care. The CQC identified breaches of regulations relating to safe care and treatment and staffing, and the trust has been asked to submit an action plan outlining how it will address the issues identified.

Following the inspection, the overall rating for urgent and emergency care was downgraded from Good to Requires Improvement. The Responsive rating also fell to Requires Improvement, while Safe remained Requires Improvement. The Effective, Caring and Well-led domains all remained Good.

Inspectors found people were experiencing delays throughout their emergency care journey, including waiting for triage, clinical assessment and onward admission or discharge. At the time of the inspection, the hospital was operating at the highest NHS escalation level, reflecting demand that exceeded available capacity.

The report found the service was not consistently meeting the national standard for triaging patients within 15 minutes. Average triage times were around 25 minutes and, in some cases, exceeded 40 minutes.

The CQC also highlighted staffing pressures, with an overall vacancy rate of 22.1%. Medical staffing shortages contributed to delays in assessment and patient flow, while the use of corridor care during periods of high demand affected people’s privacy, dignity and safety.

Performance against the national four-hour emergency care standard also remained below target over the previous 12 months, ranging between 66.7% and 73.7%.

Inspectors identified concerns about clinical documentation, finding that records were not always completed sufficiently to ensure risks to patients were consistently identified and managed. Low completion rates for mandatory training were also noted.

Despite these concerns, the CQC found evidence of a positive learning culture within the department. Leaders reviewed incidents regularly, shared learning with staff and had already begun implementing improvements to record keeping and safety checks following the inspection.

The report also highlighted collaborative working with local mental health services and specialist teams, including safeguarding, homelessness, alcohol liaison and learning disability services, to support patients with complex needs.

Inspectors also recognised the trust’s continued investment in service improvement through digital initiatives, including electronic prescribing, and its participation in national clinical research.

The CQC said it will continue to monitor the trust’s progress as it implements improvements in response to the inspection findings.

Stay informed with the stories shaping health and social care.

Register with The Daily Round for the latest sector news, inspections & reports, wellbeing content, workforce insights, expert features and practical updates—delivered free to your inbox.