Basildon hospital trust taken out of special measures

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been taken out of special measures following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

The trust’s leadership team say that “local people now have a hospital they can be proud of”.

The trust had been one of 11 placed into special measures by Monitor last July because of concerns about the standard of care. It is the first of the group to have the sanction removed.

As part of last year’s Keogh Review, it was found that deaths among weekend admissions contributed to Basildon hospital's death rate being 11% higher than the average NHS hospital.

However, following a recent inspection, the trust, which serves a population of around 405,000, has now been given an overall rating of ‘Good’. The CQC says that “great progress” has been made on improving services.

During their visit, inspectors looked at services at Basildon University Hospital and found good practice in a number of areas. The trust was seen to be providing caring, effective, responsive and well-led services. The report states that:

• The care and treatment of people using maternity services was outstanding.
• Bereavement services for parents who had lost children were also outstanding.
• The trust had excellent leadership which was credited with having changed the culture and behaviour of staff.
• Specialist nursing staff for people living with dementia and those with learning disabilities meant that staff were beginning to support patients effectively.
• Critical care services were good, patients approaching the end of their lives were well supported and cared for and children’s services were responsive to the needs of patients.
• But the CQC also identified areas where the trust should improve and one where the trust must improve. For instance, Basildon Hospital must improve the way medications are stored and recorded. Inspectors found controlled drugs had not been recorded correctly and nutritional drugs that were out of date were also found.

The CQC inspectors will return to check on what progress has been made with regard to those areas highlighted for improvement. But Professor Sir Mike Richards, chief inspector of hospitals at the CQC, said: “I am very pleased to be able to recommend that Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust should exit special measures. I formally made my recommendation to Monitor, which regulates foundation trusts, and welcome their announcement today regarding this.

“Our inspection in March found significant improvements in a number of areas and we particularly found maternity services at the trust were outstanding.

“Some improvements are however still needed, so the trust cannot be complacent. But, as the trust has moved forward and made improvements across its services, CQC has confidence in the trust’s leadership to continue to work to make further changes for the good of its patients.”

Clare Panniker, trust chief executive, said: “Today marks the end of an era and the start of a new exciting chapter for our trust when we can once more be confident – as the regulators now are – in the quality of our care. I am delighted that local people now have a hospital they can be proud of.

“Our staff have worked tirelessly over the past year to raise standards and put care and compassion at the heart of everything we do.”

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt called it a “remarkable turnaround” and said the trust’s team deserves “huge credit” for the changes they have made, which will truly turn a corner for patients who depend on their services.

Adam Cayley, regional director for Monitor, added that patients are now benefiting from the great improvement at the trust.

“But this isn't the end of the story,” he said. “We want to make sure that the trust keeps on improving and that these improvements last.”

(Image: Nick Ansell)

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