Winchester & Chandler’s Ford MP Steve Brine has welcomed the news that staff at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been praised for their hard work following a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The Trust, which runs Royal Hampshire County Hospital, has been recognised for the improvements that have been made, which are supporting staff to provide the best possible patient care.
Steve Brine said: “This new CQC report is a testament to the hard work of RHCH staff in ensuring that patients get the best possible care. My heartfelt congratulations go out to all staff, and in particular Alex Whitfield, without who’s leadership and direction, this may not have been possible.”
The CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals, Dr Nigel Acheson, said: “Since our last inspection, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has worked incredibly hard to embed the improvements required as a result of our previous inspections, and I want to congratulate the Trust for what it has achieved.
“Our inspectors found a strong patient-centred culture, with staff putting patients first to keep them safe and involving them in decisions that affected their treatment and care.”
The CQC also acknowledged recent investments in the hospital buildings, such as the new A&E facility at RHCH, which Steve Brine opened in May after securing £4million in funding from central government.
At the time he said: “This investment shows great belief in our hospital, and these changes have been made possible thanks to £4million in capital funding from the Department of Health and Social Care. It is great to see the headline figures we talk about, of record NHS investment, translated into tangible reality here on the ground.
Staff were praised for putting patients first, protecting their privacy and dignity and ensuring that the health and safety of patients is effectively assessed.
The Trust was also recognised for improvements in medicine safety, equipment maintenance, and its commitment to infection prevention and control.
Alex Whitfield, chief executive at Hampshire Hospitals, said: “Staff at every level within our hospitals have worked incredibly hard to make improvements to their services and ensure our patients are receiving the best possible care, so it’s fantastic to see this hard work recognised by the CQC.
“We know there are still areas where we can make further improvements, and will continue to listen to our patients and staff to ensure we are delivering outstanding care to our local community. I would like to say a huge thank you to all the Hampshire Hospitals teams for all they do for our patients.”
Inspectors visited RHCH, as well as 2 other Hampshire hospitals run by the Trust in April and their reports, which were published on July 1, can be read in full at www.cqc.org.uk.
Pictured: Steve Brine with Alex Whitfield at the opening of the new ED earlier this year
