- Independent hospital
Nuffield Health Brentwood Hospital
Assessment report published 6 January 2026
Contents
Ratings - Outpatients
Our view of the service
The outpatient department comprises 25 rooms in total, including 20 consulting rooms and 5 treatment rooms; an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) suite, audiology and cardiology testing rooms, and a physiotherapy suite with an adjoining gym.
The hospital’s core service is surgery. Where outpatient arrangements mirrored those in surgery, findings have been reported in the surgery section.
The on-site assessment was unannounced and took place on 8 July 2025. We assessed 33 quality statements across the key questions of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led to determine the rating.
During the assessment, we spoke with staff, leaders, service users and stakeholders. We reviewed care records, policies, and other documentation relevant to the service.
We have rated the service as good
The outpatient service was found to provide compassionate and person-centred care. Safeguarding practice was strong, levels of compliance with mandatory training were high, and effective teamwork was evident across clinical areas. Staff were observed to work collaboratively to support continuity of care.
Medicines management was safe and infection prevention and control practice was generally effective.
Shortcomings were noted in relation to record-keeping, cleaning documentation, and risk awareness. Governance and audit processes were not consistently robust, which limited the level of assurance available. Staff engagement and access to development opportunities were variable across different staff groups, and aspects of leadership and transformation planning did not always address concerns raised by frontline staff.
However, further work was required to ensure greater consistency in embedding learning from incidents and in strengthening risk management processes.
We found one breach of the regulations regarding good governance. If we have requested an action plan, this will be requested upon publication of the final report.
People's experience of this service
Feedback from people who used the service was positive, particularly in relation to the quality of care and treatment provided. Patients told us they felt reassured by the staff,
and commented that the environment, equipment, and facilities were clean, tidy, and well maintained, which contributed to their confidence in the service.
People spoke warmly about the staff, describing them as kind, approachable, and professional. They said staff delivered effective care and treatment and took time to ensure this was person-centred and tailored to their individual needs and preferences. Patients reported that appointments ran efficiently, with minimal waiting times, and that staff explained their treatment plans clearly in a way that was easy to understand. This helped them feel involved in decisions about their care and confident in the treatment they received.
Those we spoke with also told us they would not hesitate to raise any concerns with staff, and felt comfortable approaching any member of the team if they needed support or reassurance.