The CQC inspection report on Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to be published tomorrow rating the trust as Good overall.
CQC carried out an inspection at the trust between 2 April and 29 May 2019, looking at five core services: medical care (including older people’s care), surgery, inpatient wards for older people with mental health problems, community mental health services for older people and community adult services was inspected for the first time since they were transferred to the trust in 2017. Inspectors also looked specifically at management and leadership to answer the key question: Is the trust well-led?
Queen Elizabeth Hospital was rated Outstanding overall, improving from its previous rating of Good. Inspectors reported improvements to surgery services. Patients received care that was tailored to their preferences and respected their circumstances. Leaders of the service shared a purpose and vision of high-quality care, and motivated staff to succeed, and had a good understanding of the local healthcare economy. Staff satisfaction was high and patient feedback and challenge was encouraged, so improvements to the service could be made responsively.
Community services for adults was inspected for the first time since it was transferred to the trust two years ago, rated Good overall. Community mental health services improved and was rated Good.
However, while wards for older people with mental health problems improved from Inadequate to requires improvement there was further work to be done to bring the service up to standard. Checks to ensure care records were updated were not effective and some risk assessments were not being completed. But inspectors noted that staff were caring and compassionate, and actively worked with patients to ensure their care was holistic and recovery-oriented.
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust was again rated Good overall and for services that are safe, effective, responsive and well-led. It also maintained its Outstanding rating for caring.
CQC has also published the trust’s Use of Resources report, which is based on an assessment undertaken by NHS Improvement. The trust has been rated as Requires Improvement for using its resources productively. The combined rating for the trust, taking into account CQC’s inspection for the quality of services and NHSI’s assessment of Use of Resources, is Good.
Download a copy of the report detailing our inspector’s findings
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For further information, please contact Regional Engagement Manager David Fryer david.fryer@cqc.org.uk or Regional Engagement Officer Mark Humphreys mark.humphreys@cqc.org.uk on 0191 201 1675 or 0738 490 2623.
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