- NHS hospital
St George's Hospital (Tooting)
Assessment report published 28 August 2025
Contents
Ratings - Surgery
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 28 January to 29 January 2025
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of surgical services on 28 and 29 January 2025 due to aged ratings and concerns regarding Never Events within the service. We inspected all quality statements across the five key questions: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
During our inspection we visited the following wards: Benjamin Weir, Brodie, Florence Nightingale, Gray, Gunning, Keate, Vernon and Major Trauma Unit. We also visited a selection of theatres and recovery; the Surgical Admissions Lounge, Day Surgery Unit (DSU) and the Nye Bevan unit, which is the Surgical Assessment Unit and includes surgical same day emergency care (SSDEC). We spoke with over 40 members of staff including nursing and medical staff of all grades, pharmacists, healthcare assistants, housekeeping staff, and managers. We spoke with over 30 patients and their relatives.
We rated the service as Requires Improvement. We found 3 breaches of the regulations in relation to safe care and treatment, premises and equipment and good governance. We were not assured that the service appropriately assessed risks to the health and safety of patients receiving care or treatment and did all that was reasonably practicable to mitigate any such risks. Audit data showed the service did not always complete Venous Thromboembolism risk assessments in a timely manner and did not always comply with National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures. We saw limitations on space and storage of equipment in the corridors on some wards was previously assessed as posing a risk to evacuation in the event of fire. During our inspection we observed that some escape routes remained obstructed by equipment. We were also not assured of effective governance processes. However, staff were kind, caring and compassionate. Staff and teams worked together well to deliver good person-centred care.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 38 patients, family and carers. Patients, family, and carers we spoke with were all positive about the staff treating them with warmth and kindness and providing effective care and treatment. People said communication with them was generally good. However, some people said they would have appreciated more information about their discharge or when they would be called for surgery more often. Records showed people were monitored frequently, and they felt staff were on hand if they needed them for help or support. People said they did not feel anxious about raising concerns and praised staff for their care and consideration.