MP issues statement after Greater Manchester hospital ordered to make 'rapid' improvements in warning Royal Oldham Hospital has been handed a 'corridor care' warning by the UK health watchdog Using temporary escalation spaces is often referred to as delivering ‘corridor care’ (Image: MEN ) A Greater Manchester MP has said his borough 'deserves a hospital rated good' by the country's health watchdog after it was handed a warning. The statement comes after the Royal Oldham Hospital has been told by the health watchdog to make ‘rapid’ improvements to ‘safety, oversight, and the dignity of people being cared for in temporary escalation spaces'. ‌ Using temporary escalation spaces is often referred to as delivering ‘corridor care’, where a hospital’s capacity is overwhelmed and there are too many patients for the number of A&E cubicles, beds and ward spaces. ‌ The MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, Jim McMahon, said that the watchdog's concerns must be addressed and that '[we need to] make sure we have a hospital fit for purpose and safe for staff and patients'. The Royal Oldham was served with an urgent warning from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after an inspection of its medical care services in a report published today (April 30). The CQC said it found ‘a breach in regulations’ in the use of temporary escalation spaces at the hospital, but neither watchdog nor hospital confirmed what the breach was. In other hospitals nationally, temporary escalation spaces are unplanned and can include patients waiting, being seen by medics and treated in waiting rooms, corridors, or the back of ambulances outside A&E. Article continues below The CQC rated medical care services at the Royal Oldham Hospital as ‘requires improvement’ following an inspection in August last year. Government minister Jim McMahon "Our community deserves the best," said Mr McMahon today in response to the CQC's findings . "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.” Following that inspection, the CQC says it then issued a warning notice in October to ‘focus the trust’s attention on making specific improvements to the safety, oversight, and the dignity of people being cared for in temporary escalation spaces after finding a breach in regulations’. ‌ "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," added the MP. "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 MP, also the government's Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said Royal Oldham will benefit from money pledged by the government to improve NHS infrastructure. The MP says a slice of £3.1bn in funding will 'improve building safety at the Royal Oldham'. "The NHS has endured an incredibly difficult few years," continued the MP. "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 six 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." ‌ The CQC rated medical care services at the Royal Oldham Hospital as ‘requires improvement’ (Image: Manchester Evening News ) Professor Heather Caudle, Chief Nursing Officer at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Oldham Hospital, said: “We welcome the Care Quality Commission’s feedback report and we’re grateful to patients, their loved ones and colleagues who were part of this inspection. When people provide their views and share their experiences, we learn what we’re doing right and what we need to do differently. “Since the inspection, we’ve been working on addressing issues that the CQC highlighted. One key area has been finding a different way to safely transfer patients from the emergency department to medical wards during times of high pressure on our services." Article continues below The latest inspection only covered medical care services. The rating for the hospital, including all of the services it provides, is requires improvement following an overall inspection in 2022. “In terms of the CQC’s other findings, we’re really pleased they experienced a positive safety-focused culture during their time within medical care services," said Prof Caudle. "We were also extremely proud our colleagues were noticed for how caring and compassionate they are, how they work hard to treat patients as individuals and do their best to personalise care.”