By Eric White
ESSEX County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health has welcomed the news that Basildon University Hospital has being recognised for significant improvements in its services.
This achievement comes after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) earlier this year.
In August 2015, A&E, medicine, surgery, children’s, outpatients and end of life care were all given a ‘good’ overall rating by the CQC, with maternity and gynaecology achieving an ‘outstanding’ grade.
The health regulator returned again this year to give a ‘good’ rating for the quality of critical care delivered to patients, meaning the hospital has now achieved high scores for all its eight clinical areas.
Improvement work has included recruiting extra doctors and nurses to the unit; improving critical care training arrangements; developing the leadership team and improving how patients are managed to ensure that the right patients can access the critical care unit in a timely fashion.
Cllr Graham Butland, Cabinet Member for Health, said:
“Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basildon University Hospital, was one of 14 Trusts placed in ‘special measures’ in July 2013 amid concerns about its performance.
“The Trust and staff at Basildon University Hospital have worked tirelessly to improve services and this latest recognition from the Care Quality Commission is extremely encouraging.
“I’m pleased to hear that direct feedback from patients and families is also very positive and I hope the community are confident in the fact that they will receive the very best care at Basildon University Hospital.
“Following this report it is now important that high standards are maintained, and we will be working closely with the NHS and CCGs to ensure all Essex residents receive the best possible health care.”
