Improved CQC rating represents significant progress
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has reported progress across a number of key areas and services at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with improvements across urgent and emergency care, and surgery services, at Mount Vernon Hospital and Hillingdon Hospital.
The CQC have recognised improvements at the Hillingdon Hospital site and noted ‘significant progress made at Mount Vernon Hospital, where both urgent and emergency and surgery services have improved’.
Both hospitals are run by The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and inspections were carried out between July 2024 and February 2025. The CQC inspected urgent and emergency care and surgery services at both hospitals, alongside a review of the Trust’s leadership.
- At Mount Vernon Hospital, the overall rating for both urgent and emergency care and surgery services improved from requires improvement to good
- At Hillingdon Hospital, the overall rating for both urgent and emergency care and surgery services improved from inadequate to requires improvement
- Following the inspection the Trust’s leadership rating remains requires improvement.
Antoinette Smith, CQC deputy director of operations in London, said: “It was positive to see progress at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and it was especially encouraging to see the significant progress made at Mount Vernon Hospital, where both urgent and emergency and surgery services have both improved as good overall.
“There was a clear culture of improvement. Leaders led by example and were visible, and teams worked collaboratively to ensure people’s needs were met safely. The environment was clean and well maintained, and we saw feedback being used to make changes and support staff development.
“We also saw improvement at Hillingdon Hospital, where urgent and emergency care and surgery services have both improved from inadequate to requires improvement. Staff have clearly worked hard to improve responsiveness and patient experience. In urgent and emergency care, people told us they were treated with kindness even during busy periods. In surgery, we observed effective multidisciplinary working and person-centred care being delivered under pressure.”
Ms Smith said the Trust had taken steps to address safety concerns following a warning notice about the Emergency Department at Hillingdon, regarding patients with mental health issues waiting too long to be assessed, and also with medicines administration and storage.
Lesley Watts, chief executive of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am pleased to announce that the latest Care Quality Commission report has recognised significant improvements at our Trust, with enhanced ratings across all key areas and at both our hospitals.
“We know there is still work to do and we acknowledge the CQC’s observations, which we have already begun to address. I am confident that through collaboration with our patients, our partners and our stakeholders, and with the ongoing efforts of our dedicated staff, we will continue to move forward and build a brighter future for healthcare in Hillingdon.”