22.08.19
CQC welcomes Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust improvements
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has been rated ‘Good’ overall by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), a marked improvement on past inspections that has been welcomed by the regulatory body.
Previously the trust had been rated ‘Requires Improvement’ overall.
Following an inspection by the CQC into its three core services – urgent and emergency care, medical care and surgery – between May and June 2019, inspectors rated the trust ‘Good’ for being effective, caring responsive and well-led.
There were still areas to improve on going forwards for the trust, with the being safe inspection criteria and the trust’s Use of Resources (UoR) report both showing further improvements to be necessary.
Progress was still highlighted as having occurred in these areas, however.
READ THE FULL CQC INSPECTION REPORT HERE
Addressing the inspection, Dr Nigel Acheson, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals for the south, said: “Since we last inspected, staff at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust have worked to ensure that improvements have been embedded.
“I was concerned to hear that [there remained problems]. However, we are assured that these issues are being addressed by the board and that a new leadership team was now in place within the department. We will check what improvements have taken place when we return in due course.
“But, overall, I am pleased that the trust has taken the findings from our previous inspection reports and built on them to provide improved services for their patients. I also want to congratulate them from moving from ‘Requires Improvement’ to achieving their ‘Good’ overall rating.
“Our inspectors found a board that understood the challenges to providing high-quality, sustainable services. They were supported by a committed, caring workforce who treated patients with compassion and dignity while providing them with the emotional support they needed.
“We will return at a later date to check on the further progress the trust has made.”