Whipps Cross bosses have promised the hospital will become a centre of excellence, a week after it was placed in special measures following a damning report by the Care Quality Commission.

The sale of land on the Leytonstone site would be used to fund improvements, Waltham Forest council's Health and Wellbeing Board heard today.

There will be investment in the accident and emergency department and mobile surgical units, a dedicated high dependency ward introduced and staff will be consulted on new management plans, it was announced.

The crisis-hit hospital is being monitored on a weekly basis after the CQC found widespread failings in care, with patients being put at risk.

Dr Steve Ryan, director of medical care at Whipps, apologised for mistakes and said the future of the hospital was not under threat.

He said: “On behalf of Barts Health, I, and the rest of the board accept the findings of the CQC that there was a deficit in care. We are very sorry.

“Whipps Cross will be a permanent feature on the landscape and will exist as a major hospital. 

"We do need investment and there is work for all of us to do.

“The vision for Whipps Cross is a strong local hospital which is known for care excellence. 

"The trust is looking to purchase mobile operating theatres for the site, which have a 20 year life span.

“A great local hospital with and accident and emergency unit, maternity unit and a surgical unit famous for giving the very best care to people who use it, especially the elderly.

The development of a high dependency unit was promised, as well as more home-based care for children.

Last week, the Trust Development Authority, which has been called in to assist Barts Health Trust, agreed to allow the trust to sell land around the hospital and invest the money in Whipps.

Land and disused buildings located on the south west corner will be sold for an estimated £15million.

Leader of the council, Chris Robbins, called the report a “major catastrophe” for the community and called for immediate improvements.

He said: “It is a tragedy which has been unfolding before our eyes.

“Action must be taken before we find ourselves in the position, if it continues to decline, where people will start to say it is unrecoverable and there is not enough money to go into it.”

Cllr Robbins demanded immediate action to enforce basic standards of care, to stabilise the staffing situation and develop of a long-term financial plan.

Councillor Mark Rusling, cabinet member for children and young people, said people in the community need to be kept informed on improvements.

He said: “We need to see milestones.

“Its’ not good enough to say these things will improve, we need to be able to see you are on track at the end of May - at the end of June.

 “Some of the papers here today, I can’t understand a word of them. This community needs updates in plain English.”

Dr Ryan said this will be done.

Lyn Hill-Tout, who started as the managing director for Whipps Cross Hospital on Monday, vowed at the meeting to work directly with staff to address CQC evidence of a “culture of bullying”.

Members of the committee did not answer questions from Waltham Forest Save Our NHS on the Private Finance Initiative at other hospitals under Barts Health management, which has been blamed for a reported trust deficit of more than £90million, but promised to meet them at a later date.