Two south London hospitals have been told they must improve standards of care for elderly patients, following a national review by the government’s independent health regulator.

St George’s Hospital in Blackshaw Road, Tooting, and Guys’ and St Thomas’ Hospital in London Bridge and Waterloo were visited as part of an investigation into patient dignity and nutrition by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Following an inspection at St George’s on April 5, the CQC said improvements needed to be made to identify patients’ additional food and drink requirements.

It said: "These are not always followed and people may be at risk because they are not getting the support they need."

Commenting on care provisions at Guys’ and St Thomas’ Hospital, it said hospital staff were "kind, caring and dedicated", but said patients’ privacy had not always been respected and relatives views were not always accommodated. In response to the report, a Guys’ and St Thomas’ spokeswoman said: "Our staff work hard with patients and their families to continuously improve the care we provide, and we welcome all feedback on our services."

A spokeman for St George’s said: "In response to the recommendations the trust took action to help maintain its high standards.

"This included raising awareness of nutritional assessments among our staff and ensuring more consistent use of thickening agents in drinks for patients who need them."