Following a damning report by the Care Quality Commission that found Colchester General to be inadequate, local MP Priti Patel has called for the hospital to implement an improvement plan as soon as possible.
The Witham MP said the Colchester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust should "crack on" with implementing the plans for the benefit of patients.
Following the inspections on November 12 and 27, and December 23, 2014, carried out in response to concern about performance and care received by patients, the hospital's Urgent and Emergency Services and Medical Care was rated as 'inadequate' overall, while it also received an overall rating of 'inadequate'.
The CQC has now placed conditions on the Trust so it can improve how patients are assessed, discharged and transferred.
"Colchester Hospital has been facing a series of challenges and pressures in recent years and the outcome of the most recent CQC inspection is disappointing. The Trust will now need to crack on with implementing the improvements that the CQC require so that patients can be assured that they will receive the best care possible," Ms Patel said.
"The Trust has made a series of changes to its board and its management and I am in regular contact with the Chief Executive to both question them about their services and improvement plans and support them. Many of my constituents receive excellent care at the Hospital and I commend the Trust's hardworking staff. I want to see the Trust move forward so that all patients receive excellent care and this cycle of concerning reports from the CQC is brought to an end."
