A inspection report of Queen’s Hospital A&E is “unbelievably shocking”, says Barking MP Margaret Hodge.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors found the emergency department is still failing to protect the safety and welfare of patients.

A report, released today, said many patients had to wait too long before they were seen - some up to 11 hours - and that the ward did not have enough doctors or beds.

Speaking today, Mrs Hodge said: ““This is just an unbelievably shocking report. The appalling treatment that patients are receiving is just intolerable and inexcusable.

“On every indicator this A&E is failing to provide the safety and quality of care patients need and deserve.

“The fact that some people are waiting for more than 11 hours to be seen is just staggering.”

Barking and Dagenham Council also voiced its concerns over the report.

Cabinet member for health, Cllr Maureen Worby, said: “The Council will continue to work closely with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals (BHRUT) Trust [which runs Queen’s] and other partners, to help them to deliver the necessary improvements.

“It’s vitally important that when visiting any department at Queen’s Hospital our residents receive a service that they are entitled to, and this currently isn’t the case.”

Cllr Worby, however welcomed the positive results of a CQC into the hospital’s maternity department, which was once one of the worst in the country.

The report, also released today, showed that the unit met all three standards examined by inspectors, including care and welfare of people who use services; safety, availability and suitability of equipment; and staffing.

“We are very pleased to see that there have been improvements made to the maternity unit,” Cllr Worby said. “This demonstrates that the trust can turn things around and make the improvements where needed.”