A “turning point for the trust” is how the woman at the helm of the borough’s hospital trust is describing a damning report into the care provided by it.

The Care Quality Commission has made 73 separate recommendations after a full investigation into care at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT), which runs both King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes and Queen’s Hospital, Romford.

It has found patients “remain at risk of poor care”.

BHRUT chief executive Averil Dongworth said: “We are already working to implement the recommendations in the Care Quality Commission’s report, and are taking its findings extremely seriously.

“While we are pleased that the report acknowledges that there have been positive developments at the trust, we know that there is still a lot of work to be done.

“We will be working closely with our partners to ensure that changes are implemented as quickly as possible.

“This report marks a turning point for the trust.

“We recognise that there have been failures in the past, but we are determined to continue to improve until we are among the best trusts in the country, giving our patients the high quality care they deserve.”

Sixteen of the recommendations from the CQC are described as “key” – with the greatest impact on patient care – which the CQC will monitor through unannounced inspections.

Labour Ilford South MP Mike Gapes said: “It’s a damning report. I’ve never seen anything as bad as this.

“It exempts King George Hospital from a lot of the criticisms and yet they want to cut services there.

“It’s a terrible indictment of this cutting mentality.”

An announcement on secretary of state for health Andrew Lansley’s decision over whether to go-ahead with plans to close the A&E and labour ward at King George is due to be made at 1pm today.

The Recorder website will give updates as soon as any statement is made.