SOUTH Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust has become the first ‘Outstanding’ acute healthcare provider in the Midlands.
The accolade means it is one of only 10 nationally, to receive an ‘Outstanding’ rating, the highest awarded by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.
It confirms that the care provided to local people is amongst the very best in the NHS.
All areas inspected by the CQC were given ‘outstanding’ ratings with comments from inspectors including:
“Patients and their families were truly respected and valued as individuals by an exceptional service.”
“There was compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels. Leaders had the skills and abilities to run the service and deliver high-quality, patient centred care. Staff understood the trust’s vision and values, and their role in achieving them. Staff felt truly respected, supported and valued”
“Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.”
“The trust demonstrated that innovation and continuous improvements underpinned clinical services delivery, with various examples of productivity improvements achieved, which had enabled the trust to continue delivering services sustainably, despite rising demand and capacity restrictions.”
Trust chief executive Glen Burley said: “I have always been proud to be the CEO of this Trust, but reading the CQC’s report I feel prouder than ever.
“I want to congratulate and thank our entire workforce because fantastic achievements like this are only possible through real team work.
“Although we are now officially outstanding we are aware that we are not perfect. I want to reassure our patients and partners that we will continue to strive to be even better, using this as a catalyst to be more innovative.”
Neighbouring Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which for a long time was in Special Measures with an ‘Inadequate’ rating, this year moved to ‘Requires Improvement’ following a CQC inspection.
