Over half of England's hospitals offer substandard care

An Observer investigation found over half of England's hospitals and two-thirds in London offer substandard care. Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings of 254 general hospitals revealed 51% as "requires improvement" or "inadequate." In London, 68% of hospitals were substandard. Issues included inadequate staffing, untreated calls, and poor infection control. CQC's director emphasized the need for quality and safety checks. The Department of Health and Social Care pledged £14.1bn to improve care.