CQC says hospital's surgery requires improvement
QEHA health watchdog has rated surgery at a Norfolk hospital as "requires improvement".
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out an inspection at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King's Lynn in March 2026.
The CQC has also issued warning notices due to breaches of regulations around people's safety and the quality of the premises and equipment.
A spokesperson for the hospital said it was sorry it had not consistently met the standards patients expected.
The report highlighted concerns about the storage of oxygen cylinders, fire escapes being obstructed and hygiene issues.
It said that patients said most staff were kind, respectful and "trying their best".
Sarah Ivory-Donnelly, CQC Deputy Director of Hospitals in the East of England, said: "We found leaders hadn't always identified or addressed risks to people's safety, which undermined otherwise skilled and evidence-based care.
"Some staff felt trust leaders weren't listening to them and we found gaps in communication at that level."
In December, a review of surgical care at the QEH uncovered a toxic culture that risked patient safety.
QEHQEH is part of the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group (NWHG).
Deputy Chief Executive Jo Segasby said: "Patients and their loved ones should be able to trust that we are getting the basics of safe, high-quality care right every time.
"This report shows there were occasions where we fell short, and we fully accept that.
"Ultimately, people will judge us not on today's report, but on the improvements that we make and the care they and their loved ones receive."
The QEH is in the process of being rebuilt on the current hospital's car park.
It is ranked as the second worst performing hospital in the country according to NHS England's acute trust league table.
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