Trust takes control of ‘toxic’ service at ‘under siege’ neighbour

A small hospital’s general surgery service is being taken over by a neighbour, after a review found “unacceptable” care standards and reported concerns about a “toxic culture”.

The Royal College of Surgeons review, published today, said staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn (QEHKL) Foundation Trust service also reported a “real disconnect between [the trust’s] senior management and the ground”.

In response, the trust has said the QEHKL service will now be overseen by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals FT’s general surgery team, under “mandated support arrangements in preparation for establishing a shared service”.

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Source: Health Service Journal, 18 December 2025