24.07.19
Kent Community Health Trust rated 'Outstanding' by CQC
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found improvements at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust following its latest inspection and it is now rated 'Outstanding' overall.
A team of inspectors from CQC visited the trust in May 2019 to check the quality of four core services: sexual health services, urgent emergency care, end of life care and community dental services.
At a previous inspection in June 2014 the trust was rated 'Good'. The trust is now rated 'Outstanding' for being caring and effective and 'Good' for being safe, responsive and well-led.
Following the inspection, deputy chief inspector of hospitals for the CQC, Dr Nigel Acheson, said: "Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide range of essential health services to a large population in Kent, supporting people to recover from illness and to live well and independently, often without being admitted to hospital.
"In June 2014, our inspectors found Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust was providing services that were rated 'Good' overall.
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“The trust has built on those findings. Not just in those areas where improvements were required, but in all areas across the trust.
“The trust’s determination to develop a patient centred culture has improved services. This has ensured that the overall rating has moved to 'Outstanding'.
“Staff spoke positively about the patient journey and the striving for continual improvement. This was especially clear in urgent care and sexual health which were both rated as Outstanding. Community Dental services also improved and are now rated as 'Good'. Staff worked as a team in a co-ordinated way for the patients’ best interests.
“The hard work makes a real difference to the lives of people using the services. Everyone who has played a part in this should be proud of this great achievement.”
Inspectors rated sexual health as 'Outstanding', highlighting the range of online options and easily-accessible services, as well as the client-led Apple Tree project with joint working between the community learning disabilities service and the sexual health service. The service allowed people with learning disabilities to access sexual health services more effectively. The term "apple tree" was used as a trigger to allow the client longer time for appointments.
End of life care was also rated as 'Good' - with caring rated as 'Outstanding'.