Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals removed from special measures

9 Jun 2014 03:24 PM

Monitor has removed Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from special measures after the trust improved its services for patients. 

Monitor’s decision follows a recommendation from the Chief Inspector of Hospitals as a result of a full inspection of the trust by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Chief Inspector gave Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust an overall rating of good for its quality of care, although he noted that some acute services could still be improved further.

Increases in clinical staff

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was put into special measures by Monitor in July 2013 following the Keogh Review into hospitals with higher than average mortality rates.

Since entering special measures the trust has made a number of improvements, including recruiting more than 200 additional clinical staff such as nurses, nursing support staff and consultants. In addition, the number of patients who would recommend Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to their friends and family has risen by over 10%.

Following the Chief Inspector’s recommendation, Monitor has decided the trust no longer needs a dedicated Improvement Director to help turn around its performance, and is not required to publish any further progress on its recovery plan on the NHS Choices website. However, a further element of the special measures regime, under which it has been partnered with the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, will continue on a voluntary basis because it has been working so well.

Monitor will continue to work with the trust

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is still formally in breach of its licence to provide NHS funded services for failing to meet A&E and waiting times targets and associated governance issues. Monitor will separately review the trust’s compliance with its licence conditions and work with the trust to identify if any further support is needed to ensure that patients continue to see lasting improvement.

Adam Cayley, Regional Director for Monitor, who was also the Improvement Director for the trust during the special measures process, said:

Patients are benefiting from the great improvement at the trust. The decision we’ve taken today is a reflection of the hard work that staff at the trust, with Monitor’s support, have put in to making the hospital a better place for local people.

But this isn’t the end of the story. We want to make sure that the trust keeps on improving and that these improvements last.