Eastbourne MP 'deeply concerned' after District General Hospital's overall rating downgraded by CQC
Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde has called for improvements in care provision at District General Hospital (DGH) after its overall rating was downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’.
It follows a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of the hospital’s urgent and emergency care services in January this year.
The CQC report, published on Thursday (November 12), found three breaches of legal regulation relating to provision of safe care and treatment, governance and staffing.
The Chief Executive of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT), which runs DGH, Jayne Black said the trust accepted the findings and ‘a number of changes’ had been made since the inspections.
And Mr Babarinde posted on social media on Friday (November 13) calling for ‘tangible, meaningful and sustained improvements’ at DGH.
He wrote: “Residents across Eastbourne deserve reassurance that they can access safe, effective and timely care when they need it.
“That’s why I am deeply concerned by yesterday’s announcement that urgent and emergency care services at Eastbourne District General Hospital (DGH) have been rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ in the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment.
“This rating should not detract from the hard work and dedication of staff. Having received care at the DGH myself, I know first-hand how staff regularly go above and beyond for their patients, often in increasingly challenging circumstances.
“While I recognise the significant pressures facing our NHS, particularly the challenges associated with our hospital’s ageing estate. I want to see tangible, meaningful and sustained improvements in the quality and safety of care that patients receive at the DGH.”
The Lib Dem MP also confirmed he had written to Ms Black to request a meeting.