COLCHESTER'S hospital trust has been ordered to take urgent action to protect its patients.

The Chief Inspector of Hospitals has used Care Quality Commission's urgent enforcement powers following an inspection in July.

The CQC has told Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust to make improvements to the quality of the healthcare provided to patients who use surgery and medical care inpatient wards at Colchester General Hospital.

Responding to the findings, the Chief Inspectors of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, said: "I am concerned Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust has not taken sufficient action to address the requirements of our previous inspections and patients using surgery and medical care inpatient wards at Colchester Hospital continue to experience a poor level of care and treatment."

See Friday's Gazette for the full story.