Updated
21 September 2026
Nuffield Health North Staffordshire Hospital is operated by Nuffield Health.
The date of the assessment was 7 and 8 July 2026. The reason for the assessment was an aged rating. The last inspection for surgery was 2021 whilst the last inspections for the outpatients department and diagnostic imaging was 2019, they all had an overall rating of Good.
Nuffield Health North Staffordshire Hospital is a private hospital that provides a comprehensive range of care including outpatients, diagnostic, inpatient, and surgical services and is located in Staffordshire. The hospital provides services for children, young people and adults. The services are available to insured, self-funding people and NHS patients. The hospital is a purpose-built private healthcare facility with 12 outpatient consulting rooms. There are 3 operating theatres, including endoscopy facilities and a minor operating unit. There is also an outpatient department, physiotherapy, pathology and diagnostic imaging services.
We assessed all quality statements across the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions and have combined the scores for these areas to give an overall rating. Where we have a legal duty to do so we rate services’ performance against each key question as outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. On this assessment all services were rated as good overall.
For the purposes of this inspection, where information relates to other services inspected on this site visit, we cover this in each individual service report for continuity. For example, where our findings on management arrangements also apply to other services, we repeat the information but cross-refer to each service report.
Updated
10 March 2026
The assessment of diagnostic imaging services took place on 7 and 8 July 2026 due to an aged rating, having last been inspected in 2020. Diagnostic imaging services provided at this location included x-ray including x-ray guidance in theatre, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), mammography, fluoroscopy and ultrasound. We did not observe mammography or fluoroscopy examinations, as they were not being undertaken during the inspection days. The service accepted referrals from private and NHS patients. The quality of care and treatment of children aged between 16 and 18 years of age undergoing diagnostic imaging procedures was not reviewed as part of the assessment of diagnostic imaging. We spoke with 5 patients and where applicable their loved ones, and a range of staff and leaders including a radiologist, radiographers, radiology department assistants, clerical staff, the radiology manager and senior hospital leaders.
During the last inspection there were no breaches of regulation, and there were no breaches of regulation in this inspection.
Safe:
The service had a good learning culture and staff and patients could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. Patients were protected and kept safe because staff understood local safeguarding arrangements. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience in the service ensure high-quality care and treatment. Managers made sure staff received training and had regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. Staff managed medicines safely. Staff had the skills to identify and respond to unexpected deterioration in a patient’s condition. Staff understood and managed risks from the environment. The facilities and equipment met the needs of patient, although some equipment was aged. The environment was generally clean and well-maintained, although cleaning records were not always complete.
Effective:
Patients, and where appropriate those close to them, were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of patient’s physical, emotional and communication needs. Care and treatment were in line with legislation, latest evidence and good practice guidance. Patient outcomes met expectations, and harm free care was the norm. Patient’s comfort was observed throughout procedures.
Patients could freely access drinks. Staff made sure patients understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent.
Caring:
Patients were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated patients as individuals and supported their preferences. Staff responded to patients in a timely way. Patients had the opportunity to ask questions about their treatment.
Responsive:
Patients, or their representatives, were involved in decisions about their care and treatment. The service provided information which patients could understand. Patients were invited to give feedback and knew who to speak with if they had concerns. The environment was suitable to meet the needs of people with conditions which could create a barrier to access. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through service planning, quality monitoring, staff training and feedback. Patients were involved in making decisions about their care and understood the need for the recommended diagnostic procedures. The service supported staff wellbeing.
Well-led:
Leaders and staff knew the service’s local vision, aims and objectives and understood how their service aligned with this. There was an open culture based on speaking up, listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Leaders had sound oversight of the quality of service being delivered through effective governance and risk management systems. There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff able to contribute ideas through a quality improvement programme.
Updated
10 March 2026
The date of the assessment was 7 and 8 July 2026. The reason for the assessment was an aged rating. The last inspection for the outpatients department was carried out in August 2019, and the report was published early January 2020 with an overall rating of Good.
The hospital provides services for children, young people and adults. The services were available to insured, self-funding people and NHS patients. The hospital is has 12 outpatient consulting rooms. There is also an outpatient department and physiotherapy services available. On this assessment the outpatients department was rated as good overall.
Safe:
The service had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications, and experience. Managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. Medicines were managed safely. Patients were safe from neglect, abuse, and discrimination.
Effective
People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of people’s personal and health needs. Care was based on the latest evidence and good practice. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Patient outcomes met expectations. Patients received effective information on pain; this was quickly identified and well managed.
Caring
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. Staff responded to people in a timely way. Staff supported patients to understand their choices, ask questions and make informed decisions about their care and treatment. The service supported staff wellbeing.
Responsive
People were involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. The service relieved pressure on other departments when they could treat patients the same day.
Well Led
Leaders had the skills and abilities to run the service. They understood and managed the priorities and issues the service faced. Leaders had sound oversight of the quality of service being delivered through effective governance and risk management systems. They were visible and approachable in the service for patients and staff. They supported staff to develop their skills and take on more senior roles. Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning, and trust. Staff felt supported by giving feedback and were treated equally. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. There was a culture of continuous improvement.
Updated
10 March 2026
The date of the assessment was the 7 and 8 July 2026. The reason for the assessment was due to an aged rating.
The hospital has 36 en-suite bedrooms. There are 3 operating theatres, including endoscopy facilities and 1 minor operating unit. Two of the theatres have laminar flow and 1 has conventional theatre airflow. Specialities include orthopaedics, general surgery, women's health, cosmetic surgery, endoscopy, imaging and diagnostics.
We assessed all quality statements across the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions and have combined the scores for these areas to give an overall rating. The surgical department was rated Good overall.
Safe:
The service had a good learning culture and staff and patients could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly and lessons learned and improvements were identified and shared with staff. Patients were protected and kept safe because staff understood local safeguarding arrangements and safe systems of working.
There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience in departments, wards and in theatres to ensure high-quality care and treatment. Managers made sure staff received training and had regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care.
Staff managed medicines safely. Staff identified and reacted to unexpected deterioration in a patient’s condition. Staff understood and managed risks from the environment. The facilities and equipment met the needs of patients, were clean and well-maintained and any risks were mitigated.
Effective:
Patients, and where appropriate those close to them, were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of patient’s physical emotional, communication and personal care needs. Care and treatment was based on latest evidence and good practice guidance. Patient outcomes met expectations, and harm free care was the norm. Patients’ pain was quickly identified and well managed.
Staff assessed patients nutritional and hydration needs. Staff made sure patients understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent.
Caring:
Staff treated patients with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated patients as individuals and supported their preferences. Staff responded to patients in a timely way. Patients had the opportunity to ask questions and were given access to specialist services, including from allied health professionals. The service supported staff wellbeing.
Responsive:
Patients, or their representatives, were involved in decisions about their care and treatment. The service provided information which patients could understand. Patients were invited to give feedback, knew who to speak with if they had concerns and were confident the service took their concerns seriously.
The service monitored and worked to improve access. The environment was adjusted to meet the needs of people with conditions which could create a barrier to access.
The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through service planning, quality monitoring, staff training and feedback. Patients were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care.
Well-led:
Leaders and staff knew the service’s local vision, aims and objectives and understood how their service aligned with this. There was a culture based on speaking up, listening, learning and trust.
Staff felt their immediate leaders were visible and supportive. They told us how they felt they were approachable and spoke of seeing the hospital director when they did coffee mornings or attended the morning huddle. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment.
Staff understood their roles and responsibilities.
Leaders had sound oversight of the quality of service being delivered through effective governance and risk management systems.
There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff able to contribute ideas through a quality improvement programme.