Almost a year after inspectors visited one of Kent’s busiest hospitals, staff and patients are still waiting for the results.

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) team looked at the emergency department of Gillingham’s Medway Maritime Hospital last February.

But its findings and overall rating have not been released due to an IT glitch which has seen 500 reports from across the UK stuck in its computer system.

With so much time now passed, there are questions whether the Medway report will still be relevant when it is finally published.

Respected GP Dr Julian Spinks said: “The longer after the inspection, the more likely things will have changed for the better or worse so it is quite important to have the report published in good time.”

The Medway NHS Foundation Trust has declined to comment on the matter but Labour MP Naushabah Khan, whose Gillingham and Rainham constituency includes the hospital, says the situation is “disappointing”.

She said: “Alongside staff, residents and local councillors, I am keen to see the findings of the report so we can understand what comes next and ensure patients are getting the best care.

“I know councillors are in communication with the regulator about when the hospital, and residents, will be able to access its recommendations and I will also continue to raise this issue.”

Medway Maritime serves around 400,000 people a year from across the Towns and two-thirds of neighbouring Swale borough.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna (Lab) also says it’s “really important” that patients and staff can access the report.

He said: “I understand the CQC is working hard to resolve IT issues which led, in part, to the delay.

“While delays are frustrating, I know the CQC and Medway Maritime are committed to getting this report published as soon as possible.”

The last recorded CQC visit to the department, which is in Windmill Road, Gillingham, was on February 15-16, 2022, where the urgent and emergency services were rated as “good”.

Inspectors said staff had training in key services, acted on risks to their patients and were focused on the needs of those receiving care.

However, they also found people were waiting for “significant” periods for speciality reviews and beds within the hospital.

Inspectors recommended staff follow a queue management document so patients were not left waiting for a long time and improved the flow of people into beds.

As the latest inspection is yet to be published, it is unclear whether these improvements have been made and if the A&E, which sees around 125,000 attendances a year, would still have achieved a “good” rating.

Dr Spinks says if new CQC findings are not publicly available, then health providers will have to keep displaying previous ratings whether these are better or worse than the new ones.

In cases where a rating has dropped, in particular, this could harm the public’s safety when accessing healthcare.

He explained: “The CQC is there for a purpose. The whole point of the CQC is to make sure services are safe and effective.

“The public makes choices on those ratings. It is about being fair to the provider and making sure patients get safe care.

“Until the report is published the previous inspection is still sitting on the website.

“From a provider’s point of view, getting a report means you can make changes as soon as possible.

“It is sad we are seeing delays in this process. If it is a smaller organisation, like a GP practice, it will raise the level of stress and anxiety for staff.”

Addressing the government’s health and social care committee earlier this month, outgoing CQC chairman Ian Dilks spoke about the IT problem.

He said: “We have got reports now that go back to some months that are stuck in systems. People cannot get them back out.

“They have done the job. They just started to draft the reports. It has to go for quality assurance, and they cannot get it back out the system.”

It is also thought the regulator is facing a backlog of 5,000 notifications of concerns by healthcare staff and members of the public which are going months with no response.

The new IT system was introduced to improve operations and communication with providers.

However, the committee also heard it had caused CQC staff “deep distress”, is not fit for purpose and is preventing them from doing their jobs.

Chief executive Sir Julian Hartley told MPs clearing delays is a key priority.

KentOnline asked the CQC what caused the IT issues, how long it has been a problem, when it is likely to be fixed and who is responsible.

The watchdog declined to comment, however, saying the questions should be submitted in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

KentOnline also asked for the names of all affected hospitals and GP surgeries in Kent, when they were inspected, if they will be reinspected to give up-to-date findings and where in Britain has waited for the longest for its report.

Mr McKenna, who is also a qualified nurse, added: “CQC reports are vital for identifying challenges and driving improvement.

“Even if improvements have been made, the report will provide valuable insights into how the trust can continue to learn and improve.

“As a former clinician, I know how hard staff work to deliver high-quality care under immense stress. And I look forward to reading the report and providing any assistance I can provide to drive change.”

The longer after the inspection, the more likely things will have changed for the better or worse

For GP practices it should take 50 days for the CQC to publish its report and around three months for hospital trusts.

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust have not reported any delays.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust did not provide a comment.

If you know of any healthcare providers in Kent who have been affected by the IT issues, please let us know by emailing alangridge@thekmgroup.co.uk