An MP has referred South London Healthcare NHS Trust
to the independent health regulator after concerns were raised over
patient safety, staffing levels and a lack of equipment.
Old Bexley and Sidcup Conservative MP James
Brokenshire got in touch with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
after meeting medical staff from the trust, one of the largest in
the UK.
He said: "I had a meeting with a number of senior
clinicians from the trust three weeks ago raising concerns over
clinical safety issues, particularly the availability of essential
equipment and some staffing levels; the impact this was having and
the fact matters were not being addressed."
Trust bosses later told Mr Brokenshire that while
there were some problems getting hold of medical equipment and more
could be done to improve communications with medical teams, bosses
were "confident" matters were being addressed since the merger.
Despite receiving such assurances, Mr Brokenshire said: "In order
for me to fulfil my duty of care to constituents, I decided to
refer the matter to the CQC to gain assurances externally that the
trust was meeting clinical standards."
Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust (QMS), Queen
Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust (QEH) and Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust
(BHT) merged last year to form the bigger body. It caters for more
than one million people and has about 6,000 employees.