Further special measures for Essex hospital found to be 'inadequate'

It's not the first time Colchester has been put into special measures. Credit: ITV Anglia.

The troubled Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust is to remain in special measures after inspectors, yet again, rated it 'inadequate'.

The NHS watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, visited the site in September and October last year.

They found the trust needed to make urgent improvements to ensure a consistent standard of care that was "safe, effective and responsive to patients needs."

It had previously been placed into special measures in November 2013 with reports focusing on problems with patient care in cancer services. This time round inspectors cited major problems in the hospital's management team.

The CQC has written to the Department for Health recommending that the trust remain in special measures for a period of three months and submit weekly improvement plans to the CQC.

If there is still no improvement the CQC say they will "consider further steps".