The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn has been revealed as the worst acute hospital in the country with the release of a new league table.
It is the first time the government has ranked hospitals, ambulance services and mental health providers in public.
The QEH was bottom of the table for acute trusts, coming in at number 134th when the figures were released earlier this week.
A statement from the hospital apologised for ‘falling short’ in some of the oversight data.
“Our patients deserve the highest standards of care, and we are sorry,” the statement said.
“Immediate steps are being take to address the issues. We are working closely within our newly-formed Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group, as well as with NHS England and regulators to deliver urgent improvements,” the statement continued.
The tables were topped by specialist hospitals such as Papworth in Cambridgeshire.
The trusts were judged on areas including waiting lists, how long patients were in emergency departments and staff feedback.
They are ranked every three months and placed in four categories. From next summer the tables will include integrated care boards.
“An experienced executive managing director, Chris Brown, has been appointed to lead the hospital team, bringing a strong track record of turning around financially and operationally distressed hospitals.
“Our staff work tirelessly under very challenging circumstances, and we are committed to supporting them as we make the necessary changes,” the statement continued.
Measures already being taken at the hospital include a clear financial improvement plan and steps to reduce waiting times in the emergency department.
The hospital is being rebuilt on its current site and has also merged with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, ranked 11th and the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, ranked 129th.
The building is held-up by thousands of props as it is full of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
l The United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, which includes the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, was in 122nd place on the recent table for acute trusts.
Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group Chief Executive Professor Karen Dunderdale said:
“We have made significant improvements across both organisations of the group in recent years, particularly in terms of quality of care, bringing down our waiting lists and improving access to services along with improvements in our financial performance.
“We do also acknowledge that we still have more to do, and have a focus on improving the working lives of our staff, the performance of urgent and emergency care pathways.”
