Leaders ‘quick to blame’ at ‘inadequate’ hospital department

Staff have accused leaders of being “quick to find someone to blame” in an inspection that has rated a hospital department “inadequate”.

The Care Quality Commission said it had found systemic cultural issues in the children and young people’s service at Broomfield Hospital, run by Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust, where employees “did not always feel listened to or feel safe to speak up in fear of being targeted or bullied”.

The CQC inspection report said: “Staff at all levels were concerned senior leaders within the trust did not fully understand the demand and pressure on staff and told us drastic change was needed.

“Staff said there was a blame culture when it came to incidents and safety. They told us leaders were quick to find someone to blame without looking at the bigger issues with staffing, capacity and leadership.”

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Source: HSJ, 17 September 2025