'Good' report is just the tonic for health trust

Tameside Hospital

A HEALTH watchdog has praised an NHS trust for its latest rating after it came out of special measures.

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust which oversees Tameside General Hospital has been rated as 'good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The upgrade comes after Tameside Hospital bosses were told to make "urgent improvements" by government health inspectors.

In 2012 the CQC issued a warning to Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, as it was formerly known, calling for immediate improvement in their standards of care. The trust was placed in special measures in 2013 after an investigation into high mortality rates at hospitals

This move was lifted two years later but health bosses said safety, effectiveness and responsiveness still 'required improvement'.

Chief inspector of hospitals Sir Mike Richards said it should be acknowledged "how far they have come" in three years.

He said: "It is clear the trust has worked hard to address the issues we raised and I am pleased to be able to change its rating from 'requires improvement' to 'good'.

"This rating amendment reflects the changes made.

"This time we saw a trust with a much improved approach to safety, training, and mortality rates.

"We saw big improvements in urgent and emergency care. The department's handling of a major incident which occurred during our inspection was very impressive and ensured patients were treated in the safest and most appropriate way possible."

An inspection team scrutinised the trust, including areas where they previously 'required improvement', during the inspection in August 2016.

Outstanding practice was found in the trust's programme for supporting pregnant women with alcohol consumption problems.

Inspectors also commended the virtual post mortem service offered by the radiology department whereby a CT scan could determine a person's cause of death.

Chief executive of the trust Karen James said she was "immensely proud" of staff and the improvements they have made for local people.

She said: "In 2013, when I joined the trust, I promised the local people, patients and staff that together we would improve the services at the organisation. Today we can look back at our journey so far and appreciate that we have come a long way. I am immensely proud of my staff and the contribution they have made."