A new report from Healthwatch Gloucestershire has identified areas for improvement regarding patient care and discharge processes at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital following inspections held earlier this year.
The independent health watchdog visited three trauma and orthopaedic wards—2A, 3A, and 3B—on 5 February 2026. While the inspectors noted positive feedback from patients regarding staff communication, the report highlighted that patients had very low awareness of Martha’s Rule. This national initiative allows patients and their families to escalate concerns if they believe a patient’s condition is deteriorating and they are not being heard.
The report also identified ongoing challenges with the hospital’s discharge process. Both staff and patients reported that it can be difficult to coordinate with doctors from other specialties to assess patients for discharge. Furthermore, the availability of follow-up care in community hospitals, care homes, and home care packages continues to impact the ability to move patients out of the hospital wards effectively. On ward 3B specifically, some patients reported that their concerns were not addressed in a timely manner, and technical issues with computer systems were cited as a hurdle for staff managing medication.
These findings arrive during a busy period for the hospital, which is currently managing the impact of a six-day strike by resident doctors represented by the British Medical Association. The strike, running from 7 April to 13 April 2026, has forced Cheltenham General Hospital to run its emergency department as a reduced service, leading to more patients being redirected to the Gloucester site.
The Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is currently rated as Requires Improvement by the Care Quality Commission, has responded to the report. Trust officials stated that staff are committed to making improvements. They have confirmed that posters explaining Martha’s Rule are now displayed across all patient areas and that staff have undergone refresher training on the initiative. The Trust also plans to install new clocks in patient areas by the end of April 2026 to help with patient orientation.
The Trust has faced previous regulatory scrutiny, including a warning notice issued by the national regulator in May 2024 regarding fire safety, cleanliness, and infection control within the hospital’s emergency department.
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