A report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Whipps Cross University Hospital in East London as 'inadequate'.
Among numerous failings, it found too few nursing and medical staff to ensure safe care, low levels of compliance with mandatory training and national guidance on critically ill patients not always followed.
Certain services lacked robust oversight and in some clinical areas risks were not always recorded or escalated. The commission also noted low staff morale and a culture of bullying and harassment.
Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, is to be placed in special measures. In February it reported a £93 million deficit. Chairman Sir Stephen O'Brien will step down at the end of March, Chief Nurse Kay Riley resigned in February and Chief Executive Peter Morris will leave once a successor is in post.
In a statement, the trust outlined steps it is taking to strengthen the leadership team and implement the improvement programme. Special measures support will be targeted at areas where it needs to make the most significant improvements as quickly as possible.
The full CQC report can be viewed here http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/R1HKH#accordion-1
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