A person experiencing a mental health crisis was left waiting more than 100 hours for a hospital bed at Colchester Hospital, according to a new report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The focus keyword is Colchester Hospital CQC report.
The health watchdog found that patients at the hospital were given “little privacy or dignity,” and rated its safety as “inadequate.” The inspection also uncovered that another patient spent nine days in the emergency department, receiving only sandwiches during their stay.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Nick Hulme said a “significant amount of work” has been carried out to improve services since the inspection in April, promising continued “urgency and determination” to address the failings.
CQC Finds Major Failures in Emergency and Medical Care
The CQC rated urgent and emergency services and medical care at Colchester Hospital as “requiring improvement”, maintaining their previous status.
Deputy director Hazel Roberts said inspectors “continued to find concerns” during the April visit, some of which had been raised before.
The report listed several alarming findings:
• Overcrowded A&E with patients treated in corridors
• Infrequent monitoring of patients and lack of access to food
• One patient in mental health crisis waiting over 100 hours for a bed
• Another left in the emergency department for nine days, receiving only sandwiches
• Hazardous substances left in unsecured rooms
• Staff missing training targets for life support and safeguarding
• 40 overdue safety incident reviews
Despite the failings, Roberts said patients praised staff for their kindness and efforts under difficult conditions.
NHS Trust Acknowledges “Disappointing” Findings
Speaking to BBC Essex, Hulme admitted that the report was “very disappointing,” particularly regarding long waits for mental health beds.
He acknowledged that A&E departments across the UK are “facing unprecedented levels of activity,” adding that staff need proper training to manage patients with complex mental health needs.
“Corridor care is not ideal — nobody wants to be treated in a corridor,” Hulme said. “But it’s sometimes the only option to free ambulances for urgent cases. It’s the best of a bad situation where there aren’t enough acute beds.”
He also highlighted that despite Colchester’s rapid growth, “no additional funds have been provided for more hospital beds.”
NHS Trust Promises Urgent Action
The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has been ordered to submit a detailed improvement plan to the CQC.
In a follow-up statement, the trust said it has strengthened recruitment, reduced corridor care, and increased mental health training for staff.
“Delivering safe, high-quality, and compassionate care remains our top priority,” Hulme said. “The CQC’s findings are a reminder of where we must improve, but they also reflect the incredible dedication of our staff.”
