9th September 2011

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has welcomed feedback from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after a visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH) in August 2011.  The latest inspection reviewed improvements made since the previous review in March 2011.

 

The overall judgement of the review is that GRH meets all the essential standards of quality and safety.

 

The Trust is very pleased with the report and in particular with the continued excellent feedback from patients. Comments such as ‘I have had excellent care’’ and ‘It is very clean, they clean every day’ are testament to the Trust’s rigorous standards.

 

Patients reported excellent quality of food and quotes to the inspectors included ‘The food is very good, I wouldn’t fault it’.  The team also noted that signage and charts were all in place and correctly completed.

 

Safeguarding policies were in place throughout the service and were felt to be effective. At the time of the previous visit, 83% of staff had received safeguarding training.  This figure has risen to 90% which was the Trust’s target. 

 

The Trust was pleased that the inspectors noted the significant improvements in the personalisation of care and particularly the effective use of hospital volunteers to help with daytime activity.

 

As previously, the visit focused on six key standards (‘Outcomes’) and how well Gloucestershire Royal Hospital was meeting them.

 

The report acknowledges the Trust’s ongoing action with regard to discharge summaries, but notes that the long-term plan for this will not be completed until 2012.

 

Cleanliness and infection control measures were again assessed and any issues raised regarding particular areas in the March inspection are noted as having been addressed, with new monthly environmental maintenance audits highlighted as an improvement.

 

Dr Frank Harsent, Chief Executive said:  “I am pleased with the latest review and particularly with the acknowledgement that we have worked hard to further improve the experience of our patients and our staff.

 

“To hear that patients appreciate the individual care shown to them while in our hospitals is testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff."

 

Responding to the report, Jan Stubbings, Chief Executive of NHS Gloucestershire, said: “As a commissioner, it is good to see the report’s positive findings. It is important that patients receive the highest quality of care at all times and we know that the Trust is focussed on making continued improvements to enhance the patient experience further.”

 

The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care services in England. All NHS Trusts are legally obligated to register with the CQC in order to operate and demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirements to be able to continue to provide health care services.

 

A team of inspectors from the South West region of the CQC conducted the review.  They visited several wards and departments, carrying out observations of practice and conducting interviews with staff, visitors and patients.

 

To read the report in full, please click here