Cumberland Infirmary’s emergency services criticised in latest CQC report
The hospital's bosses have promised improvements after an inspection revealed ongoing issues
The Care Quality Commission has criticised the urgent and emergency services at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, following an inspection earlier this year.
The inspection, carried out in February and March, was part of the CQC’s winter pressures programme.
It found significant breaches in safe care and treatment, staffing, premises and equipment, and leadership.
A warning notice was issued to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the infirmary, demanding immediate improvements.
The recent inspection resulted in a downgrade to “inadequate” for safety, and a drop from “good” to “requires improvement” in caring.
The categories of responsive, effective, and well-led were rated as “requires improvement” once again.
Roger James, CQC’s director of operations in the north-east, noted that while staff worked diligently under pressure, ineffective systems and overcrowding were compromising patient safety.
Concerns highlighted in past assessments remained unresolved, contributing to risks such as delays in directing patients to appropriate services and insufficient monitoring of those with potential health deterioration.
Additionally, the overloaded department lacked adequate facilities like beds and cubicles, relegating some patients to temporary spaces with reduced privacy and nurse supervision.
Despite the shortcomings, effective multidisciplinary collaboration was observed, with physiotherapists assisting patients in returning home safely to avoid re-admissions.
Other issues included unclean facilities, lacking individualised patient care plans, and non-adherence to good hygiene practices.
Dr Gill Findley, Chief Nurse at NCIC, expressed disappointment at the findings but affirmed steps are being taken to address the issues.
Actions already implemented include assigning healthcare staff to oversee the waiting area and refurbishing the mental health assessment room.
To ensure continuous improvement, staff are undergoing mental health training, and additional investments are being made to enhance urgent care capacity.
The inspection results by the CQC are due to be publicly released on 4th September 2026.
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.