Health service inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have today published its follow-up report into the Royal Oldham Hospital after it was found to “Requires Improvement” in August last year, confirming it continues to require improvement.
The report recognises that the care and responsiveness of NHS staff in the hospital, caring for patients day-in, day-out at a Good standard. This is positive and I am sure many of us in Oldham can attest to how brilliant the staff are in the hospital, and how hard many work to look after patients.
However, concerns over the safety, effectiveness and the leadership at the hospital were raised as reasons why the rating was given – this needs to be addressed to improve the hospital overall.
The NHS has endured an incredibly difficult few years. During the pandemic, NHS staff went above and beyond, often working under impossible conditions to save lives and support our communities. The intense demand we saw during that time has continued to a degree, for example with A&E usage soaring and waiting lists peaking at 7.8 million. After 14 years of chronic underfunding under the Tories, NHS staff and hospitals are under immense pressure. Yet, they continue to work tirelessly. Their dedication deserves more than applause – it deserves real investment and meaningful support.
The Government has committed £22.6 billion to help rebuild the NHS. That money will make a difference to towns like Oldham; to improve patient safety, reduce waiting times, and support exhausted frontline staff. We are already seeing the benefits of this funding with waiting lists falling for 6 months in a row.
On a local level, we need to address the reports concerns and make sure we have a hospital fit for purpose and safe for staff and patients. Importantly, the funding includes £3.1 billion for capital investment, aimed at repairing and modernising NHS infrastructure, which in turn will improve building safety at the Royal Oldham.
Our community deserves the best. We deserve a hospital rated “Good” at least. Not because of ratings alone, but because it means people are getting the care and dignity they should expect.
I will raise this with NHS leaders and I’ll keep pushing to make sure Oldham isn’t left behind and that our Royal Oldham Hospital strives to improve to a “Good” rating in the next report.
As a local MP, and someone who like everyone else relies on local public services, I’ll do all I can to play my part in improving things for the better.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 