A WATCHDOG has published a series of reports following an in-depth inspection at an NHS trust in special measures.

More than 50 volunteers from Healthwatch East Sussex took a closer look at services provided by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT) over the last few months.

It did the work as part of moves to improve the trust’s communications with the local community and patients.

The trust was branded inadequate by the Care Quality Commission last year.

Inspectors found a “worrying disconnect” between senior managers and frontline staff, allegations of bullying and a leadership described as a “dictatorship”.

Concerns were also raised about the trust’s surgery and maternity and outpatients services.

Healthwatch carried out three reports, including a review of the trust’s complaints process, an overview of maternity services and experiences in A&E.

In a statement Healthwatch said: “Patients told us, that on the whole they were very satisfied with the level of care they received, this was also confirmed when we visited wards and departments.

“We also found complainants experienced long delays at various points of the process.”

The watchdog said patients were complimentary about maternity unit staff but felt better information for fathers and partners was needed.

It also found patients were continuing to come into A&E unnecessarily and this was a particular issue for Eastbourne District General Hospital.