Queen Elizabeth Hospital, The, King's Lynn
- Useful links:
- A&E scorecard
This hospital is part of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
General hospital information
- Number of beds: 395
- % of single rooms: 18%
- Total parking spaces: 188
- Average parking fee per hour: £0.86
Address & description

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust (QEH) is an acute General Hospital with 514 inpatient beds. The Trust is located in the town of Kings Lynn, West Norfolk, and provides secondary care services to a population of approximately 240,000 people from 3 counties; North-West Norfolk and adjoining parts of Breckland, North Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire.
The main hospital complex is on the outskirts of King's Lynn, Norfolk, although some specialist services or clinics are provided at outlying facilities such as the North Cambridgeshire hospital in Wisbech, and both Swaffham and Wells Community hospitals.
The Trust employs 2,630 staff, including 1021 nurses and midwives, 171 consultants and doctors and 122 medical trainees. It is rated as one of the 12 most efficient hospital Trusts in England in terms of value for money and managing operational costs. Administration costs are 4.5% of income. The 2007 Healthcare Commission 'Annual Health Check' rated the Quality of Service as 'excellent', placing the QEH within the Top 20% of NHS Trusts in England. It is one of the top four hospitals in the East of England for excellence of maternity services and one of the highest rated for trauma care.
The QEH provides a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community-based services. A Macmillan Centre provides palliative care for patients with cancer and other chronic illnesses and there is an award-winning Day Surgery centre (Cabinet Office Charter Mark award, 2002, 2005 and 2007, for 'excellence of provision of public service'). The QEH is on track to become a Foundation Trust early in 2010.
In 2007/08 the QEH dealt with 367,861 patient 'attendances'. Of these 59,233 were Accident and Emergency cases - an average of 150 emergencies every day of the year. The hospital's consultant team comprises
- Accident and Emergency
- Critical Care
- Day Surgery
- Breast Surgery
- Cardiology
- Specialist Care of the Elderly
- Haematology
- Cytopathology
- Dermatology
- Ear, Nose & Throat
- Genito-Urinary medicine
- Maxillo Facial Surgery
- Pathology
- Microbiology
- Neurology
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
- Oncology and a specialist Macmillan unit
- Ophthalmology
- Orthodontics
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Radiology
- Rheumatology
- Urology
In addition there is a renal dialysis unit (an outreach unit of the nephrology service in Cambridge). Oncology services are supplemented by additional facilities in Cambridge and Thoracic and Plastic surgery services are provided by the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital. Other specialist services are being developed in association with other NHS Trusts across the East of England.
The QEH has strong links with the University of East Anglia and the University of Cambridge and these are being developed to give greater recognition as a major teaching hospital. The Trust has recently been granted 'Partner Trust' status with the University of Cambridge Clinical School.
The QEH catchment area is essentially rural. Outside King's Lynn other concentrations of population are in small market towns Hunstanton, Wisbech, Swaffham and Downham Market, with the remainder of the population in scattered villages and hamlets across an area of almost 1000 square miles.
The population profile includes a high proportion of older residents, since this is a popular coastal retirement area. However, new housing developments in recent years have seen population growth in towns such as Downham Market, principally of younger families.
The area also attracts large numbers of temporary residents. The population during the summer months almost doubles, with an influx of holidaymakers, second-home owners and seasonal agricultural workers, many from Eastern Europe. Recent research revealed that around 100 ethnic languages are now spoken in West Norfolk.
* this profile text was provided by The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
Services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, The
General Services Information
Hospital Questions
- How many single rooms are available to NHS patients at this hospital: 85
- Of these how many have an ensuite toilet: 36
- Of these how many have an ensuite toilet and shower or bath: 36
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Does this hospital operate an accident and emergency unit:
- How many specialist palliative care beds are available at this hospital: 7
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Does this hospital have a named private unit/service:
Trust Questions
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Does the Trust treat private patients:
Patient Safety
Trust Questions
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Is there a system for recording operations that resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery:
- What is the reporting system for a foreign body being left post surgery: Incident reporting
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Is there a system for recording operations that were cancelled due to missing notes:
- What is the reporting system for operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Incident Reporting
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Is there a system for recording operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place:
- What is the reporting system for operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Incident Reporting
- During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery: 0
- During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations were cancelled due to missing notes: 0
- During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: 0
- How many incident investigations using a full Root Cause Analysis did were carried out in 2010/11: 16
- What percentage of patient safety incidents resulting in severe harm or death had a full RCA initiated/completed: 100%
- What percentage of acute inpatients have a track and trigger warning system in place for the duration of the admission: 100%
- What percentage of patients are risk assessed for venous thromboembolism on admission: 91-99%
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Compliant with all relevant NPSA safety alerts issues in 2010/11 (you can find a full list of alerts issued at http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/?p=3). :
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Does the Trust have a policy for providing educational programmes on using and interpreting clinical indicators:
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Does the Trust have a designated member of staff who supports teams in locating and analysing safety and quality data? (support):
There are a number of staff in the Patient Safety Directorate and Information Services who provide this service
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Is safety and quality data available on a central platform and actively disseminated to users:
There are a variety of quality and safety scorecards that are diseminated through the governance structure and locally through the clinical teams
Infection Control
Trust Questions
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Does the Trust employ an antibiotic pharmacist:
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Does the Trust operate a pre-admission assessment clinic or equivalent system where patients are screened and results returned in advance of the day of admission:
- Elective patient groups screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: All elective surgical and medical
- Are all oncology patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
- Are all chemotherapy patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
- Are all elective neurosurgery patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: Not Applicable
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Are all patients with past history of MRSA screened at the pre-op assessment clinic:
- What method of MRSA screening is used when screening at admission: Culture based in 24-48hrs
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On admission, does topical suppression take place immediately:
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Does the Trust have at least one accident and emergency unit:
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Are all patients admitted through A&E screened:
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Is screening done according to individual risk assessment:
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Does the Trust have a dedicated isolation ward:
- How many beds does it contain: 7
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Does the Trust have an isolation policy:
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Where medically appropriate, are patients with C Diff isolated in single rooms as a matter of priority:
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Does the Trust have a policy to guide the use of metronidazole and vancomycin for C.difficile infected patients:
Vancomycin only
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Does the Trust routinely isolate all patients with diarrhoea:
Stroke Medicine
Hospital Questions
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Does the hsopital have a specialist stroke unit:
- What type of stroke unit does the hospital have: combined acute and rehabilitation stroke unit
- Number of beds in the unit: 29
Trust Questions
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Does the Trust have a specialist stroke unit or units:
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Is the Trust part of a stroke care network:
- Details: Anglia Stroke Network
- How many emergency admissions with a primary diagnosis of stroke (ICD10 codes I60 - I64) did the Trust receive in the financial year (period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011): 429
- Of these, what was the number of patients given a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan within 24 hrs of admission: 381
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Is thrombolysis for stroke patients provided 24 hours per day and 7 days a week :
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Are there any formal arrangements with neighbouring hospitals for the emergency transfer of stroke patients who would benefit from thrombolytic treatment:
The Trust provides throbolysis 24/7 cover
Trauma & Orthopaedics
Trust Questions
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Does the Trust offer a trauma service:
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Does the Trust have a dedicated trauma list available 24 hours a day for the duration of the week, (Sunday to Sunday):
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Does the Trust offer an orthopaedics service:
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Do all the Trust's orthopaedic ward/team have a linked geriatric team with whom they have regular meetings at least once a week:
2 WARD ROUNDS PER WEEK
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Does the Trust run a pre-operative patient education session/class for patients to attend prior to Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR)? :
THR Only
- What is the estimated percentage of all patients that attend the class prior to surgery: 50
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Does the Trust have a standardised anaesthetic protocol for Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR) patients:
- Estimated percentage of the Trusts total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) patients walk within 24 hours of surgery: 75
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Does the Trust have a specialist orthopaedic physiotherapy service which is available 7 days a week:
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Not able to put a figure Patients' discharge delayed due to lack of physiotherapy services at weekends:
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Are patients for total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) admitted prior to the day of surgery:
Only if specific high risk
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Are patient records routinely recorded using a specific multi-disciplinary team THR/TKR pathway document:
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Is criteria-based discharge used:
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Are patients routinely phoned in the first 48 hours after discharge to check on their progress:
Only TKR service at present
Paediatrics
Hospital Questions
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Does the hospital have a paediatrics service:
Trust Questions
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Is the Trust's elective paediatric surgery carried out only by designated surgeons with at least six months training in a specialist unit:
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Do the Trust's anaesthetists with responsibility for paediatric anaesthesia participate in at least one paediatric list per week:
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Is a paediatrician on site (SpR or higher) 24 hours per day, 7 days per week:
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Are at least two registered children's nurses on duty 24hours per day in each children's ward:
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Is there a designated facility on site for parents or guardians to stay overnight:
Neonatal Unit Only
Palliative Care
Trust Questions
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Does the Trust provide a palliative care service:
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How is specialist palliative care delivered at the hospital: A multi-disciplinary specialist palliative care team
Service incl. 4 adult inpatient specialist palliative care beds and 3 community intermediate palliative care beds
- Does the hospital's specialist palliative team includes: A consultant in palliative medicine,A palliative care nurse
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Is the Trust's specialist palliative care team available 24 hrs a day seven days a week:
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Are facilities provided to support relatives and carers who wish to stay with a patient in hospital:
Including overnight log cabin for families of patients in specialist unit
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Does the Trust routinely survey and evaluate the views of patients and bereaved relatives and carers regarding the delivery of care on the end of life programme:
Last completed Feb 2011
Maternity Care
Maternity Sites
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Consultant Led
- How many women gave birth in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 2432
- How many babies were born in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 2501
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How many women were booked for a home birth: 0
Not known
- How many women had a home birth? (not including births at home by accident): 65
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Number of antenatal rooms: 6
Combined anti-natal and postnatal ward (21 beds in total) with flexibility around bed usage
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Total antenatal beds: 6
Combined anti-natal and postnatal ward (21 beds in total) with flexibility around bed usage
- Number of assessment area rooms (for monitoring and / or induction): 1
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Total assessment area beds: 2
Recliner chairs also available
- Number of delivery rooms: 9
- Total delivery beds: 12
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Number of postnatal rooms: 15
Combined anti-natal and postnatal ward (21 beds in total) with flexibility around bed usage
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Total postnatal beds: 15
Combined anti-natal and postnatal ward (21 beds in total) with flexibility around bed usage
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Number of rooms in obstetric high dependency unit: 1
Room designated for HDU on delivery suite
- Total obstetric high dependency beds: 1
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Number of single rooms used for both delivery and postnatal care (labour, delivery, recovery and postnatal, or LDRP, rooms): 21
Combined Anto-natal and Post-natal ward with flexibility around bed usage
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Amenity rooms; Are women able to book a single room in advance of their birth:
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If women can pay for a single room what is the average cost per night (GBP): 55
Ensuite and non ensuite available
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Does the maternity unit have a neonatal intensive care unit:
Local NICU (Level 2) with, 12 cots 3 ITU/HDU and 9 SC
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Does the maternity unit have a neonatal high dependency unit:
Local NICU (Level 2) with, 12 cots 3 ITU/HDU
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Does the maternity unit have a special care baby unit:
Local NICU (Level 2) with, 12 cots 3 ITU/HDU
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Security measures - ankle bands for the baby:
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Security measures - cot alarms:
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Security measures - CCTV:
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Security measures - restricted access:
- Pain relief available - bath or shower: Provided by unit
- Pain relief available - birthing pool: Provided by unit
- Pain relief available - birth ball: Provided by unit
- Pain relief available - Massage: Not available
- Pain relief available - Aromatherapy: Not available
- Pain relief available - TENS: Provided by unit
- Pain relief available - Epidural: Provided by unit
- Pain relief available - Mobile epidural: Provided by unit
- Pain relief available - Entonox (gas and air): Provided by unit
- Pain relief available - Intramuscular injection: Provided by unit
- Total number of WTE midwives at the unit in your funded establishment, including vacant posts: 84.12
- Total number of WTE midwives at the unit as staff in post, including agency and bank staff: 102
- Does the unit have midwives available to provide one-to-one care available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
- Does the unit have midwives available for home births available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On call
- Does the unit have midwives trained and experienced in water birth available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
- Does the unit have a paediatrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
- Does the unit have an obstetrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
- Does the unit have an anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
- Does the unit have a dedicated obstetric anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
Trust Questions
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Do all women have a choice about where they receive their antenatal appointments (i.e. at hospital or local health centre):
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Are NHS antenatal classes available (e.g. Parentcraft):
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Available during the daytime (until 5pm):
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Available in the evenings (after 5pm):
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Available at weekends (Saturday and/or Sunday):
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Available for women only groups:
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Available for other groups:
- Also available for: Teenagers
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Are all women routinely offered ultrasound scans:
- Scan 1 available between: 8-12
- Scan 2 available between: 20-22
Trust Statistics
Trust Questions
- You can view various measures relating to the Trust's performance by clicking the following link: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
Consultants at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, The
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Accident & Emergency services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, The
cardiac services (heart attack) |
National average | |
|---|---|---|
| Patients having thrombolytic treatment within 30 minutes of arriving at hospital |
N/A
The National Service Framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD) states that 75% of eligible heart attack patients in England should receive thrombolytic drugs within 30 minutes of arriving at hospital. Read more about this indicator.
|
75% |
| Patients having thrombolytic treatment within 60 minutes of calling for help |
N/A
This standard reflects the combined performance of the ambulance service, general practitioners (GPs) and hospitals and is the most relevant overall indicator of care of heart attack patients. It encourages collaborative working across all relevant NHS organisations, particularly between ambulance services and hospitals to reduce delays to thrombolytic treatment. The call for professional help will usually be direct to the ambulance service but may be to a GP or NHS Direct. The Department of Health has set NHS organisations in England the target of 68% of patients receiving thrombolytic treatment within 60 minutes of calling for professional help. Read more about this indicator
|
68% |
| Primary angioplasty within 90 minutes of arrival at interventional centre door |
N/A
An interim good practice standard of 90 minutes from arrival at an interventional hospital to the time when the blocked artery is reopened (door to balloon time) has been established for provision of primary angioplasty, based on international guidelines.
|
90% |
| Patients discharged from hospital on secondary prevention medication | ||
| Asprin | 93% | 99% |
| Beta blocker | 85% | 96% |
| Statins | 86% | 97% |
| ACE inhibitor | 80% | 94% |
| Clopidogrel | 83% | 95% |
