NHSE has given notice to the trust of the imposition of additional licence conditions.

The letter called for EKHUFT to ensure its board is ‘equipped with the right leadership skills, experience and capacity to oversee all elements of organisational governance financial delivery, quality of care and operational delivery in line with national standards and expectations and regulatory notices and address any concerns in a timely and robust manner'.

The intervention followed the recent resignation of chair Annette Doherty.

NHSE also notes ‘significant operational delivery issues including challenging 12-hour A&E performance, ongoing use of corridor care and elective long waits'.

A warning notice was issued by the CQC following a visit to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital on 6-7 January 2026 regarding serious quality concerns, emergency department flow and staffing.

EKHUFT is also one of 14 trusts subject to the national maternity investigation launched in September 2025.

NHSE also noted the trust had forecast a £47.4m 2025/26 deficit (or £84m excluding deficit support funding), £40.8m adverse to plan.