Concerns over safety of children and adults at risk of abuse have been raised as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) tells Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust to improve.

The trust, which serves around 350,000 patients in five locations including Darent Valley Hospital, Erith and District Hospital and Queen Mary’s, was inspected in November and December 2017 and “requires improvement.”

Among the concerns in the CQC’s report were safety of services, including “insufficient safeguarding processes” to protect vulnerable children and adults at risk of abuse.

The safety, effectiveness and leadership of patient services was worse, while the care and responsiveness stayed the same. Overall, the quality of services had declined since its last inspection.

The report acknowledged that a growing population in North Kent added to pressures on the trust, but laid out 27 improvements that must be made.

However, the report said patients were treated with compassion and were given emotional support by staff across the Trust.

Darent Valley Hospital was ordered to urgently improve the security of patient data and to put steps in place to protect patients at risk of abuse.

A statement from Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said: “The Trust is committed to improving services to the population we serve, and welcomes the feedback from the CQC.

“The report also highlighted a number of areas where improvements need to be made.

“The Trust has taken immediate action to address these wherever possible and has produced a comprehensive action plan to prioritise and ensure that we comply fully with all of the requirements in the report.

The Trust has vowed to train staff to better understand mental illness and safety measures to better protect patients who need medical, urgent or emergency care.

The statement added it “welcomes the CQC recommendations” and has promised to put a board in place to review its leadership and monitor the quality of its care.