Chief Inspector of Hospitals asks people to tell him about the care provided by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

England's Chief Inspector of Hospitals is inviting members of the public to tell his inspection panel what they think of the services provided by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Their views and experiences will help inspectors decide what to look at when they inspect the hospitals and community services run by the trust in September.

The trust will be inspected and given an overall rating under radical changes which have been introduced by the Care Quality Commission.  The formal inspection of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust will start on Monday 8 September.

The Chief Inspector, Professor Sir Mike Richards, announced last year that he will lead large inspection teams headed up by clinical and other experts including trained members of the public.

To ensure the views of patients and the local community are properly heard, the inspectors will be holding two listening events on Thursday 4 September at:

• White Rock Theatre, White Rock, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1JX (11:00-12:30, doors open 10:30)
• The International Lawn Tennis Centre, Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4JJ (18:00-19:30, doors open 17:30)

People are being encouraged to attend a listening event to find out more about the inspection process, to tell the team about their experiences of care and to say where they would like to see improvements made in the future. 

Sir Mike said:

"The inspections are designed to provide people with a clear picture of the quality of the services in their local hospital and in their community, exposing poor or mediocre care as well as highlighting the many services providing good and excellent care.

"We know there is too much variation in quality – these in-depth inspections will allow us to get a much more detailed picture of care than ever before.

"Of course we will be talking to doctors and nurses, hospital managers and patients in the hospital. But it is vital that we also hear the views of the people who have experienced the care provided by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust over the course of the last year or so, or anyone who wants to share information with us.  This will help us plan our inspection, and so help us focus on the things that really matter to people who depend on this service.

“This is your opportunity to tell my team in person, and make a difference to the NHS services in the local area.

“If you are unable to come to the event we still want to hear from you through our website http://www.cqc.org.uk/share-your-experience-finder or our helpline 03000 616161.  Everyone’s experiences of care are important to us.”

Sir Mike's inspection team is expected to look in detail at eight key service areas within the hospitals run by the trust alongside core community services: A&E; medical care (including frail elderly); surgery; intensive/critical care; maternity; paediatrics/children’s care; end of life care; and outpatients.

A full report of the inspectors’ findings will be published by the Care Quality Commission later in the year.   The trust – and each individual hospital and core service - will be given one of the following ratings:  Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate.

Ends

For media enquiries, call the CQC press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours or out of hours on 07917 232 143.  

For general enquiries, call 03000 61 61 61.