A healthcare trust has vowed to address its failings after the care quality commission (CQC) said it ‘requires improvement’ at its latest inspection.

Representatives from London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust said they would look to provide better services in all areas following the report.

Improvement was deemed necessary at Northwick Park Hospital, in Harrow, and Ealing Hospital, while performance across community services and at Central Middlesex Hospital was classed as ‘good’.

Simon Crawford, director of strategy at the trust, said: “We were clearly disappointed with this CQC report, and we are sorry about that.

“There are some things that have significantly improved, but that does not downplay the significance of this report.

“We’ve addressed the immediate issues but there is a whole range of recommendations to go through.”

Maternity services at Northwick Park were rated as ‘inadequate’, while urgent care ‘requires improvement’. The CQC rated caring and critical care at the hospital as ‘good’.

Mr Crawford argued that the trust’s clinical performance at the hospital is “sound” and said it would “quickly” solve any “technical issues” there.

This included the introduction of a security guard for maternity services and more effective use of the hospital’s lifts.

His comments were supported by Rosemary Heed, senior divisional manager in women and children’s health at the trust, who said many of the criticisms were justified.

She said: “The issues around security were fair; and we needed to sit up and take notice.

“And the cultural issues must be taken seriously. If we don’t get them right, they can impact on patient safety.”

Despite the concerns, several Harrow councillors – some of whom had recently made use of the trust’s services – praised the overall performance.

Cllr Rekha Shah, chairman of the health and social care scrutiny sub-committee at Harrow Council, said it provided what she views as more than adequate urgent care in trying circumstances.

And Cllr Chris Mote, sitting on the committee, explained how he was seen to “remarkably quickly” during his latest visit to Northwick Park.

The trust will host a summit on November 6 at Ealing Hospital to help address the issue and it has appointed two directors tasked with looking at an improvement plan.