The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are to begin their inspection of Croydon University Hospital today.

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust is the first in the country to be inspected under the radical changes introduced by the CQC.

In August the hospital was named as one of six "high risk" hospitals prioritised for a tough new regime of inspection after the CQC announced a radical shake-up of the way it monitors hospital standards.

The five day inspection will be carried out by an inspection panel that will include doctors, nurses and other experts including trained members of the public.

The panel is being led by Professor Edward Baker, Medical Director at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and will look in detail at eight key service areas including A&E, maternity, paediatrics and outpatients.

Patients are able to find out more about the inspection process and share their experiences of Croydon University Hospital at a listening event being held in the Arnhem Galley in Fairfield Halls this evening.

Members of the public will also be able to tell the panel where there would like to see improvements made in the future.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, the CQC's new Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said: "These inspections are designed to provide people with a clear picture of the quality of the services in their local hospital, exposing poor or mediocre care as well as highlighting areas of good and excellent care.

"Of course we will be talking to doctors and nurses, hospital managers and patients in the hospital.

"But it is vital that we also hear the views of the people who have had care at Croydon University Hospital, or anyone who wants to share information with us.

"This will help us plan our inspection, and so help us focus on the things that really matter to people who depend on this service"

Anyone wishing to attend the listening event is asked to fill in an online form at cqclisteningevents.org.uk or call 0300 61 61 61.

People who have not registered are free to turn up on the evening. Those who cannot attend but wish to give their views can email them to cqclisteningevent@livegroup.co.uk.

 

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