Havering (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Healthwatch Havering’s new report evaluates frailty ward at Queen’s Hospital, outlining findings, patient concerns, and recommendations for improved care.
A study on Queen’s Hospital’s frailty ward and same-day emergency care (SDEC) for the elderly was released by Healthwatch Havering, an independent organization that expresses the opinions of the borough’s citizens regarding health services.
Members visited the wards to observe how they were handling the influx of elderly people from the emergency department, and the report was released on December 1.
Healthwatch Havering team members reported that the experience was “enjoyable” and that the atmosphere in both wards was “pleasurable” according to the study.
Since “everything that can be done to hasten the processes” was thought to be in place, no recommendations for additional inspections were given.
Inspectors said:
“As a result, bed availability can become challenging, resulting in the much-publicised waits in corridors for patients awaiting admission (which is far from ideal but unavoidable) and in ‘bed blocking’, with patients ready for discharge not being able to be, and other patients having to wait until it has been possible to arrange the discharge and vacate the bed.”
According to the survey, general practitioners frequently refer older patients who experience falls or other issues directly to the hospital.
It described how the ward’s physiotherapists evaluate the patients, yet frequently, after they return home, they fall again within a few days and need to be readmitted.
The primary purpose of both wards is to care for patients who are at least 75 years old.
The matron is in charge of the 30 beds in the frailty ward, which is typically staffed by ten persons. There are twenty beds in the SDEC Ward.
In addition to the patients in the wards, about forty patients are receiving treatment online from the comfort of their own homes as part of the virtual ward program.
It was discovered that toileting was done “very regularly” in order to maintain the dignity of senior individuals.
The fact that no patients on the ward had been discovered to have bed sores thus far was “pleasing” to inspectors.
The crew saw that the wards had observation charts above the beds, call buttons accessible, full water jugs, and red jug lids for patients in need of further care.
Throughout the day, hot beverages were provided, and Complan is used to enhance the plated meals for individuals who require further assistance with feeding issues.
Additionally, some of the patients’ relatives who were present during the visit were interviewed by inspectors.
One informed them that their relative had once been discovered without an identifying wristband due to a malfunctioning ED machine, but that this had been “rectified immediately” once the personnel was notified.
Both the patients they were with and other relatives were apparently “very happy” with the care.
A request for comment has been sent to Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT).
How did the report assess cleanliness and infection control standards?
Healthwatch Havering’s report set up cleanliness and infection control on Queen’s Hospital’s Frailty Ward to be generally acceptable but inconsistent, with visible setbacks in some areas during the October 2025 visit.
Ward shells, bathrooms and high- touch points like bed rails showed mixed results; some areas were well- maintained, but others had dust buildup, stained furnishings and clutter, falling short of full compliance with public norms.
Hand hygiene installations were present and grazed, with staff observed using PPE meetly; still, setbacks included inconsistent waste isolation and occasional setbacks in alcohol gel use between cases, egging recommendations for deeper checkups and training.