Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust improves cleanliness and infection control, says regulator

8 June 2010

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has made necessary improvements to cleanliness and infection control, the Care Quality Commission said today (08 June 2010).

CQC ordered improvements to be made after a series of inspections found the trust was not meeting the essential standards for registration. Under its tough new registration system, CQC had given the trust a licence to provide services only on the condition that it made improvements by 1 April.

CQC’s latest inspection on 7 April found the trust had addressed the concerns. It said there was evidence of good cleaning practices, with the necessary audits and controls in place to minimise risks to patients of getting a healthcare-associated infection.

CQC said it would now lift the conditions it had placed on the trust’s licence.

Since 1 April this year, all 378 NHS trusts who provide services in England are required to be registered with CQC. To be registered, trusts had to show they met new essential standards of quality and safety, which CQC will constantly monitor.

Surrey and Sussex was one of the 22 trusts whose registration was conditional on action being taken to address concerns about the safety and quality of care. CQC set out the action required at each trust with strict deadlines for improvements.

Roxy Boyce, CQC's regional director, said: “We are satisfied that the trust has now addressed our concerns about cleanliness and infection control. It must maintain these standards, for every patient, at all times.

“As part of our tough new registration system, we will continually monitor all trusts. Patients should be able to go to any healthcare services and expect that essential standards of quality and safety are in place.

Ends

For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9235 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors

The registration of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust was subject to the following condition:

Condition: The trust must, by 1 April 2010, be compliant with the Code of Practice for the NHS on the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections and related guidance. Outstanding requirements from inspections on 28 January and 18 February must be met within the timescales stipulated in the inspection reports.

For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9235 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.