02 December 2014

UH Bristol recognised for its caring approach

Following its inspection of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) in September this year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today published its findings.

The CQC examined all areas of UH Bristol, looking at eight service[i] areas across five different aspects of service or domains[ii]. Of the 56 ratings awarded, UH Bristol scored 'good' or 'outstanding' in 44 areas and no service or domain was rated as being inadequate. Twelve of the 56 ratings were judged as 'requiring improvement', leaving UH Bristol overall with a 'requires improvement' rating.

As well as inspecting the main city centre campus, the CQC visited South Bristol Community Hospital and the Central Health Clinic and judged these services to be delivering good care in every domain.

UH Bristol was judged to be caring in all areas of service, and children's services, maternity services and end of life care were rated as good or outstanding in every domain.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, Chief Inspector of Hospitals, noted in his letter to UH Bristol that "every service at each location was found to be caring. We observed caring staff providing kind and compassionate care and treatment. We saw many very positive interactions between patients and staff. There was evidence that staff regularly 'go the extra mile' in providing care".

Robert Woolley, Chief Executive of UH Bristol, said: "The Trust welcomes the CQC's report and is delighted to see such recognition of our staff and their efforts to provide the very best care for our patients. I am particularly proud that each and every area inspected by the CQC was rated as 'good' in the domain forcaringwhich is testament to the focus the Trust has placed on supporting staff to deliver compassionate, individual care to all our patients, every day."

As part of the wider process, a large number of both lay and professional inspectors looked closely at every aspect of care delivered to children, care within maternity services and care for those at the end of their life. All these services were rated as 'good' overall with children's and maternity services also achieving outstanding ratings.

Bryony Strachan, Clinical Chair for Women's and Children's Services, said: "I am absolutely delighted to have received such positive feedback on the fantastic care given in our children's and maternity services. Staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that the services we offer are the very best they can be and meet the needs of both children and their families.

"To have so many areas of our services described in such glowing terms, by this team of external inspectors, is fitting tribute to the efforts of our hardworking staff."

The CQC report found 12 aspects of UH Bristol's services requiring improvement and these included the organisation of outpatient services, the flow of adult medical and surgical patients into, through and out of our hospitals, and our arrangements with partners to care for people with urgent mental health needs.

James Rimmer, Chief Operating Officer, said "We have been working with partners to improve flow through our hospitals, and considerable improvements have been delivered - some since the inspection itself. However, the CQC's findings highlight that there are further improvements we can make.

"We will redouble our efforts, working with our partners in social care and community health services who are equally committed, to ensure only those patients who require hospital care are admitted to our hospitals and that those who need our care are treated promptly and can return home as soon as they are well enough to do so."

Dr Martin Jones, Chair of Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "I welcome the thorough CQC inspection of UH Bristol and the finding that its services are effective and caring. This is testament to the hard work of all the staff and echoes what we already know about the Trust.

"The CQC comments around pressures in outpatients and urgent care demonstrates the importance for clinical leaders across organisations in Bristol continuing to work together to wrap services around patients. There is huge commitment across both health organisations and social care to work together to focus on areas where we know we can really make a difference.

"We acknowledge the significant amount of work already being done to make improvements to enhance patients' journeys through hospital and back home as soon as they are able, as well as the system getting better at keeping hospital care for those who really need it."

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