I was extremely relieved to hear today that inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have confirmed that care at hospitals across mid and south Essex has improved.
The CQC has removed the previous inadequate ratings for medical services at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and revoked the warning notice.
The Mid and South Essex Hospitals Trust has issued the following statement today:
"Inspectors visited Broomfield, Basildon and Southend hospitals in July and – in its report published today - recognised the hard work of staff and their determination to provide patients with high quality care.
The report reflected that: “Staff supported patients to make informed decisions about their care, they gave patients enough food and drink to meet their needs and improve their health, and leaders operated effective governance processes throughout the service.”
Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We are on an improvement journey, which has been recognised by our quick turnaround from inadequate in July to requires improvement now. This is a positive step forward and inspectors clearly recognised the raft of improvements that have been put in place.
“These changes are having an impact and we were able to demonstrate our commitment to providing a quality, safe, effective, and caring service. I recognise we still have some way to go and I am adamant we will continue to improve, providing the safe, high-quality care our community rightly deserves.”
Across all three hospital sites the CQC saw improvements in the following areas:
- Risk assessments
- Governance
- Nutrition and hydration
- Design and maintenance of equipment and an estate that kept people safe
- Helping patients to make informed decisions about their care
- Improved adherence to Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberties assessments."
