News

Northern Lincolnshire trust taken out of special measures

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) has been taken out of special measures by regulator Monitor.

Following improvements at the trust, Monitor said patients had seen a “significant improvement” after it stepped in to take action and offer support.

The regulator’s decision follows a recommendation from the chief inspector of Hospitals who rated Goole Hospital as ‘good’. However, the Diana Princess of Wales and Scunthorpe General Hospitals were rated as ‘requiring improvement’.

Since entering special measures, the trust has made a number of improvements, including recruiting 198 more clinical staff. Maternity services have also been performing well, with the maternity service at Scunthorpe General Hospital winning a national award.

Frances Shattock, regional director for Monitor, said: “Staff at the trust have worked hard to deliver the improvements and our decision reflects the impact of their efforts and the support that Monitor and other NHS organisations have offered.

“It is good news that the trust has taken the action required to enable it to be taken out of special measures. There are still improvements which it needs to make, and we will continue to hold the trust to account to ensure that it takes the action required.”

Monitor has decided the trust no longer needs a dedicated Improvement Director to help turn around its performance, and is not required to publish any further progress on its recovery plan on the NHS Choices website. However, the trust will continue to receive support from other NHS organisations to provide expert advice and support to ensure that improvements continue.

Dr Karen Dunderdale, NLAG's deputy chief executive and chief nurse, said: “I am delighted at Monitor's decision to accept the Care Quality Commission's recommendation to remove the Trust's special measures.

“We are not complacent and know there is still much work to do, but we have proved that we are highly capable of making a complex range of changes at a fast pace. All our doctors, nurses, support staff and managers are committed to further improvement and it's thanks to their efforts so far that we've reached this milestone.”

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