Medical care (including older people's care) and urgent and emergency services at Croydon University Hospital were again rated requires improvement although improvements were found, following an inspection in April.

Antoinette Smith, CQC deputy director of operations for London, said: ‘When we inspected Croydon University Hospital, we found the emergency department was still very crowded, because of severe challenges admitting or discharging people from the medical wards, although staff were working extremely hard to meet people's needs.'

The CQC said people waited an average of over 13 hours in ED in December 2024 for a bed, seven hours longer than the national average with some people waiting over 60 hours.

Inspectors observed staff caring for people in corridors and an internal clinical waiting area. While noting staff were kind, the CQC said people had little privacy and dignity and there were a lack of facilities such as adequate toilets.

The CQC also noted these spaces lacked bells or emergency alarms and though the trust was acting to manage risk busy corridors made it hard for staff to reach vital areas such as the resuscitation room posing a potential delay to lifesaving care.

Long discharge times for people on medical wards were observed due to home transport delays or delayed care packages.

However, the CQC said leaders had started to make improvements and had improved staff culture, noting ‘most staff were working well together to meet people's needs as well as they could'. 

A spokesperson for Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said: ‘The CQC has published its latest inspection of urgent and emergency care and medical services. The overall rating for the hospital remains requires Improvement', but improvements in leadership, care and effectiveness were recognised.

‘We are proud that the inspectors noted the kind and compassionate care delivered by our staff and improved team culture, despite the pressures facing the NHS.

‘Since the inspection, we have already implemented a number of improvements, including the opening of a new Medical Assessment Area to ensure all patients can be cared for with privacy and dignity and have developed local plans to tackle the other issues raised in the report.'