A major West London hospital has been told it still requires improvement by the health watchdog, despite making progress in some areas. A damning new report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) details how over 200 patients were treated in hospital corridors in a single month, with some falling from their trolleys due to unsafe conditions.
Corridor Care Compromising Dignity and Safety
The CQC inspection found that in September 2025 alone, 221 patients at Hillingdon Hospital received treatment in corridors, for an average of at least two hours each. This practice was found to severely compromise patient dignity and privacy, with no screens between trolleys in narrow passageways.
The report highlighted significant safety risks, noting that the corridors were so cramped a hospital bed could not pass. Between April and October 2025, 10 incidents were reported related to corridor care, most due to a lack of staff. This led to delays in essential investigations like ECGs and blood tests. On two separate occasions, patients fell from their trolleys in these corridors.
Concerns Over Children's Mental Health Provision
Inspectors raised serious concerns about the safety of children and young people with mental health conditions. They discovered the paediatric emergency department had no dedicated 'ligature light' room or cubicle. These specially designed spaces remove fixtures that could be used for self-harm, providing a safer environment during a mental health crisis when constant observation isn't possible.
While the trust stated it mitigates these risks, the CQC concluded the absence of such a facility continues to place vulnerable young people at potential risk of self-harm.
Improvements Noted Amid Ongoing Challenges
The report was not entirely negative. The CQC upgraded the hospital's ratings for surgery and urgent & emergency care services following its October 2025 inspection. Surgery was rated 'good' overall, with inspectors praising improved patient flow and a significant reduction in long stays in the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU).
Stays longer than 24 hours on the SAU fell markedly compared to 2024, and extended stays over 40 hours were completely eradicated between May and October 2025. The safety rating for urgent and emergency care also moved up from 'inadequate' to 'requires improvement'.
Overall, however, the hospital's governance and safety still require improvement, though this marks a step up from its previous 'inadequate' rating. The CQC commended improvements in management, patient feedback, and learning from incidents.
Future Rebuild Offers Hope
The hospital, once described by a Health Secretary as having the worst facilities he had ever seen, is in line for a major transformation. It is set to receive up to £1.5 billion under the government's New Hospitals Programme for a complete rebuild.
The current estate is in urgent need of repair, with issues including leaks, sewage overflows, failing lifts, and asbestos. Construction work on the new building is expected to begin in 2027, or by 2028 at the latest.
Alan McGlennan, Chief Medical Officer and Managing Director of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I am pleased to see that our surgical and urgent and emergency care services have made significant improvements. A huge thank you to our staff... We know that we have more to do, and we are already working to address the points raised by the CQC."
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