One of the country's biggest A&E units could be forced to close over safety fears it's staffed by to

ONE of the country’s busiest A&E units could be the first to close over safety fears because it is staffed by too many trainees.

North Middlesex University Hospital has been given a fortnight to hire more experienced medics following a Care Quality Commission warning.

Internal documents claim the department could pose a “significant risk” to patients as only two of its 26 junior doctors have worked in casualty before.

The GMC and Health Education England, which oversees staffing, will remove the 26 if things fail to improve.

That will leave the unit in Enfield, North London, with too few staff to stay open.

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Previous A&E closures have been financially motivated, not due to safety.

NHS England is now urging neighbouring hospitals to loan out their senior A&E doctors to ease the crisis.

GMC chief executive Niall Dickson said: “We will not allow postgraduate training to continue in this department if the appropriate action is not taken.”

A spokesman for the hospital said it fully accepted the CQC warning and added: “We are looking at a number of initiatives to recruit additional middle-grad and consultant A&E doctors.”

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