Angela Watkinson, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, has visited Queen’s Hospital to praise our staff for their hard work in getting out of special measures.

She visited Tropical Lagoon, one of our children’s ward, where senior sister Gill Watson was on hand to talk about how we had improved services for young patients.

This area was one which received special praise in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report, published on 7 March, rating it as good overall.

The MP also visited our Outpatients’ Department, another area singled out for praise in our CQC report.

She said: “I was delighted to congratulate the Trust on coming out of special measures, and pay tribute to the efforts of all the staff in behalf of their patients. I wanted to come in person to show my support, and offer my personal thanks.”

We came out of special measures, after three years, earlier this month.

Inspectors were particularly impressed with our work with neonatal and community teams to provide vulnerable babies with oxygen therapy at home and the good feedback from parents of children with a learning disability on how our care has improved.

Pictured above is MP Angela Watkinson on Tropical Lagoon ward with senior sister Gill Watson.