Barking, Havering and Redbridge Trust has responded to a damning report into the care provided local hospitals that found “serious failings”, with 73 separate recommendations being made.

The probe into the services provided by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust was launched at the end of June.

It has found patients “remain at risk of poor care”.

BHRT chief executive Averil Dongworth said: “We are already working to implement the recommendations in the Care Quality Commission’s report, and are taking its findings extremely seriously.

“While we are pleased that the report acknowledges that there have been positive developments at the Trust, we know that there is still a lot of work to be done.

“We will be working closely with our partners to ensure that changes are implemented as quickly as possible.

“This report marks a turning point for the Trust. We recognise that there have been failures in the past, but we are determined to continue to improve until we are among the best Trusts in the country, giving our patients the high quality care they deserve.”

The trust runs both King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes and Queen’s Hospital, Romford.

Cynthia Bower, chief executive of the CQC, said: “We have been forcing the trust to address issues on a short term basis – but we have real concerns about safety in the mid-to longer term.

“This organisation needs to stop relying on others to tell it what’s wrong and put in place the systems and processes that will ensure care is safe – so that no one else is failed or harmed by poor care.”