Andrew Rosindell M.P. was today the guest of Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive of the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust, as he visited Queens Hospital, Romford, for the first time following the General Election.
Andrew was taken on a tour of several departments in the hospital, visiting radiography, accident & emergency, and old-age care, where he met the Dementia team.
In each of the departments toured, Andrew was shown the new, innovative techniques that Queens are using to ensure that patients get the best possible care.
In radiography, Andrew was given a demonstration of the a high-voltage x-ray machine which can manoeuvre right around patients and target specific, internal parts of their body, which makes the x-raying process both safer and faster.
In Action & Emergency, Matthew and the team explained to Andrew how they have created better links between front line staff and the more longer-term care sections of the hospital to improve the flow of patients through A&E.
And in old age care, Andrew met the dementia team, who have undergone extensive training in recent years, to better understand the physical and mental difficulties that patients experience on a day-to-day basis.
It has been noted that Queens Hospital as struggled in recent years, but the latest Care Quality Commission report (July 2015) demonstrated that Queens has now moved comfortably out of special measures.
After the tour, Andrew was able to meet one-on-one with Matthew Hopkins, to discuss some of the structural changes which he has begun to put in place since his appointment in April 2014, with a view to changing the top-down management structure, as well as the staff culture at the Hospital.
Following the tour and meeting, Matthew said: “I am delighted that we have such a close working relationship with our MPs who take a real interest in the improvements we are putting in place for their constituents.”
Andrew Rosindell commented further: “I had a great time, and found the tour be fantastically informative. I really respect the work that staff have done to help start turning Queen’s Hospital around, and look forward to seeing it improve as a hospital well into the future.”