MP Sadiq Khan said some of the findings are very worrying.
A leading hospital in Tooting has come under fire after inspectors found elderly patients with drinks out of reach, dusty wards and little support for fathers in the maternity unit.
St George’s Hospital has been warned by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that it must improve after breaching numerous national standards.
Some issues in the report included dust in wards, dirty clinical areas between patients and doors to isolation rooms used by patients with infectious diseases left open.
Other issues involved private conversations in A&E about medical conditions heard by others and staff unaware of the need to offer pressure-sore equipment for patients.
Many women on the maternity ward complained about the way their partners had been treated during their time there and the lack of facilities for men.
Tooting MP Sadiq Khan said: “Having the Care Quality Commission’s report on our very own St George Hospital, it is clear that there are serious concerns.
“The lack of cleanliness identified in parts of the ward, issues regarding patient confidentiality and reports of elderly people not being able to reach a drink are all very worrying.”
The findings come in light of St George’s attempt to become a ‘foundation’ hospital, which would give the hospital a significant amount of managerial and financial freedom when compared to NHS hospital trusts.
St George’s has not been immune to the financial demands of the times and in 2011 had to cut hundreds of jobs to save £50m.
“Everyone has the right to expect the very best treatment and care when they are in hospital, but with Government cuts our hospital are placed under ever increasing levels of strain,” Mr Khan said.
“I will closely monitor their ongoing efforts to improve patient care and to ensure patients continue to receive the care they deserve.”
Mr Khan said that despite some of the issues raised St George’s is still a fantastic hospital and that all the staff work very hard to give excellent patient care.
Photo courtesy of National Archives via Wiki Commons, with thanks.
Follow us @SW_Londoner
