Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust A&E rated inadequate

Accident and Emergency services at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust have been rated 'Inadequate' - and medical care 'requires improvement'.

That's following an unannounced Spring inspection of the Queen Alexandra Hospital by the Care and Quality Commission during February and March.

Inspectors found overcrowding and long waiting times at A &E. The trust said it is 'working hard ' to make changes.

The inspection identifies a number of specific areas where the trust must improve, including:

• Patients waiting in the corridor, or in ambulance vehicles, must be adequately observed and monitored by appropriately trained staff.

• The hospital must accept full clinical responsibility for patients waiting on the ambulance apron

• All medicines must be stored safely in the Medical Assessment Unit

• Patient notes must be stored securely across the hospital to prevent unauthorised access.

• All patients in MAU must have care based on plans developed to support identified risks.

• Patients must receive timely discharge from hospital.

• Plans to change the urgent medical pathway must be implemented in a timely manner.

• Staff in the MAU must adhere to infection control policies and procedures

• There must be better and more accurate monitoring information to reflect patient safety and the quality of care