Ipswich NHS trust rated ‘good’

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated the services provided by Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust as ‘good’ following inspections between August and October 2017.

CQC inspectors visited urgent and emergency care, medical services, services for children and young people and end of life care at the trust.

Community inpatient services at Aldeburgh Community Hospital, Bluebird Lodge Community Hospital and Felixstowe Community Hospital were also inspected.

CQC inspected these services as part of its continual checks on the safety and quality of healthcare services and because the trust now runs specialist community services that not previously been inspected.

The trust was rated as ‘good’ overall and ‘good’ regarding whether services were effective, caring, responsive and well-led, and ‘requires improvement’ regarding whether services were safe.

Ted Baker, CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, said: “Overall, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust provides good care to the large population that it serves. The trust can be proud of many of the services that it manages.

“We found staff to be dedicated, kind, caring, patient focused who worked well together. For example, staff from different specialities within the emergency department and medical care worked effectively together as a team to benefit patients. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals supported each other to provide good care and communicated well with other departments within the trust.

“Managers across the trust promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values. Local leaders, for example ward sisters and matrons were highly respected by staff we spoke with and staff felt respected and engaged with the services.

“The trust engaged well with patients, staff, the public and local organisations to plan and manage appropriate services, and collaborated with partner organisations effectively.

“We also found some areas where improvement could be made. The trust has told us they have listened to our inspectors’ findings and we are confident that the executive team, with the support of their staff, will work to deliver these improvements on behalf of all of their patients. We will return in due course to check on the progress that they have made.”