Emergency care in London rated worst

London: The poor state of London's emergency care centres has drawn scathing criticism in a report published on Thursday.

Most of the capital's A&E (accident and emergency) departments were rated as the worst in the country by patients.

The survey also showed people think London's A&E departments are dirty and patients are treated without respect and dignity.

The Healthcare Commission asked patients across the country to rate the care they received from ambulance and hospital staff. More than half of the overall worst-rated hospitals were in the capital, while 13 London hospitals were at the bottom for cleanliness.

The health watchdog which carried out the research is investigating why London scored so poorly compared with the rest of the country. A spokesman for NHS London said there were "issues with A&E that are particular to London".

"Programmes are in place to increase the choice for patients wishing to access urgent care, including greater access to GP [general practitioner] services, through polyclinics and extended GP opening hours," he said.

To deal with increased pressure, NHS London has published newspaper ads urging patients only to go to hospital in an emergency.

The latest report shows the best-rated overall hospital trusts in London were Moorfields Eye Hospital, Queen Mary's Sidcup, Epsom and St Helier, and Homerton.

Hillingdon, Queen Elizabeth and Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trusts were among the worst.