The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised safety concerns about the Isle of Wight's main hospital after inspectors found people in the emergency department who were effectively unmonitored and in distress.
Inspection finds gaps in emergency care despite overall 'good' rating
St Mary's Hospital in Newport was awarded an overall rating of good by the CQC, but its urgent and emergency care services were judged to require improvement. Inspectors visiting in February discovered a series of operational problems that prompted the regulator to issue a formal warning notice to the Isle of Wight NHS Trust.
Key concerns included prolonged waits for assessment and admission, with some patients not seen within four hours of arrival and others waiting more than 12 hours for a hospital bed. Inspectors also observed instances where access to patients in cubicles was obstructed because trolleys had been left across entrances. In several cases, people in the waiting area were not visible to staff and inspectors had to call for assistance for individuals who were distressed.
"Inspectors were concerned that staff had limited visibility of the waiting room and wouldn't be able to respond quickly if people deteriorated,"
Despite these issues, the CQC noted positive aspects of the hospital's culture. Medical care was rated good, and inspectors found evidence of teamwork and a willingness among staff to raise concerns. The regulator said the warning notice had triggered remedial activity within the trust.
Trust accepts findings and pledges action
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust said it accepted the report's conclusions and was committed to addressing the identified weaknesses at pace. The trust's leadership pointed to earlier improvement since being taken out of special measures in 2021 and said work to reduce delays and improve patient flow was already under way.
"We fully accept the CQC's findings, which clearly identify areas where we need to make improvements at pace,"
The report underlines the pressure on the island's only acute hospital, where constrained space and rising demand can contribute to bottlenecks in the emergency department. The warning notice requires the trust to take specific corrective steps and demonstrate progress to the regulator.
What inspectors highlighted and next steps
- Limited visibility of the waiting area, increasing risk that deteriorating patients may not be spotted quickly.
- Long waits for assessment and admission — some patients waited more than 12 hours for a bed.
- Blocked access to cubicles caused by trolleys positioned across entrances.
- Positive findings on medical care quality and a culture that supports raising concerns.
- A formal warning notice has been issued and remedial actions reported by the trust.
| Area | CQC finding |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | Good |
| Urgent and emergency care | Requires improvement |
| Medical care | Good |
For island residents, the inspection underlines the importance of continued monitoring of emergency care performance and transparent reporting by the trust on its improvement plan. The CQC will expect demonstrable change following the warning notice; failure to address the issues could lead to further regulatory action.
I will continue to follow developments and report on the trust's response, the specific measures it implements in the emergency department, and any updates from the CQC about compliance with the notice.
