Whipps Cross being put in to special measures 'a tragedy', according to campaigner

Barts Health NHS Trust was placed in special measures yesterday after a CQC inspection showed widespread failings of care at the Leytonstone hospital.

The report found a culture of bullying and harassment at Whipps Cross, insufficient staffing, high use of agency staff and low staff morale.

Andrew Sharp lives in Highams Park and is a member of Waltham Forest Save Our NHS. He is also the founder of the National Health Action (NHA) group for Waltham Forest and stood as a candidate in last year’s European elections.

He said: “The CQC report depicting the descent of our local general hospital into chaos and poor care is deeply frustrating and very upsetting."

Barts Health, which also runs Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, St Bartholomews in The City, Newham University Hospital, Mile End Hospital and the London Chest Clinic, reported a debt of around £63million last year.

This is believed to have risen to around £90million due to liabilities relating to a private finance initiative (PFI) for redevelopment.

Mr Sharp continued: “Whipps Cross was taken over by Barts Health Trust in order to help spread the onerous burden of the PFI deal that funded the rebuild of the Royal London in Whitechapel.

“From that moment it seemed pre-destined that the people of Waltham Forest would lose out.

“The fact that Barts management decided to cut 220 posts and downband hundreds more has left our hospital under-staffed and under-resourced.

“It is testament to the staff that they have persisted in the face of such adversity and have now called out the bullying culture to the CQC.

“Campaigners have been warning about all of this for several years.

“It is tragic that our much-valued and much-needed hospital is now under special measures."

Peter Morris, Barts Health Chief Executive, earlier apologised for the hospital's placement in special measures and promised to fully engage with staff to deliver the improvement required.