Weston’s CQC risk rating drops dramatically following hospital improvements

New figures just released show that Weston General Hospital’s risk rating, given by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Intelligent Monitoring report, has dropped dramatically in just one year. In 2013 the Hospital was judged by the CQC as a high-risk NHS organisation with a risk rating of two out of six. This year however, the CQC now considers Weston to be a low-risk organisation with a rating of five out of six. Six is the lowest risk rating any acute Trust in England can achieve.

Nick Wood, Chief Executive Weston Area Health NHS Trust said:

“Last year Weston Area Health NHS Trust made a very public commitment to improve our quality and safety of care. These results demonstrate how hard staff across the whole of the Trust have worked. This is a testament to their professionalism and success.

As well as today’s low CQC risk rating, our A&E four hour performance over the winter period has been one of the best in the country. In addition, cancelled operation numbers are low, and the number of complaints received from patients has declined as well.”

Recent comments made by patients about their care at the Trust mention things such as:

“The Consultant and nurse were so kind and offered the most wonderful support and care.”

“I would like to compliment the staff for giving the patient plenty of time... quick and efficient.”

“I was treated with utmost dignity and respect.”

The CQC Intelligent Monitoring report for acute and specialist trusts in England monitors Trusts to establish if they are safe, effective, responsive, caring and well-led. Monitoring also helps the CQC decide on prioritising its hospital inspections. 

The CQC report is based on a number of sources including the NHS staff survey, the national inpatient survey, emergency and readmissions and concerns raised by staff.

Over the last year the Trust has put a detailed programme of improvements in place which have contributed to today’s five tier rating. We have:

• Increased the number of nurses on the wards and recruited more permanent staff (to reduce the need for agency staff).
• Worked with our health and social care partners to improve discharge processes.
• Improved the ‘patient’s journey’ in the hospital so that moves to different wards only occur for clinical reasons.
• Opened a surgical assessment unit to review specialist emergency patients more quickly.
• Created an improvement hub where doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals work together to implement improvements in patient care.

“Weston is the smallest acute Trust in the country” continued Nick. “We are demonstrating that even during the challenges facing the NHS it is entirely possible to achieve positive change. As always, this success is due to the hard work and commitment of every single member of the Trust’s team.”